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Connecticut becomes third US state to ban Glock handguns over automatic conversion risk, NRA calls it attack on Second Amendment
Connecticut Governor has signed a new law banning the sale of Glock handguns, citing the ability of semi-automatic Glocks to be converted to fully automatic pistols using so-called Glock switches. The state joins California and Maryland in the ban. The NRA condemned the law as a direct attack on the Second Amendment.
The Governor of Connecticut has signed into law a ban on the sale of Glock handguns in the state, making it the third state in the US to enact such a restriction. The legislation was prompted by growing concerns over the ease with which semi-automatic Glock pistols can be converted to fully automatic weapons using readily available devices known as Glock switches. Connecticut now joins California and Maryland in banning these firearms.
The new law goes beyond targeting just the Glock brand, banning all handguns with a similar trigger mechanism that could potentially be modified for automatic fire. Lawmakers argued that the proliferation of Glock switches has turned what are already powerful weapons into even more dangerous firearms capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, posing an acute threat to public safety and law enforcement.
The National Rifle Association responded swiftly and forcefully to the new law, calling it nothing less than a direct attack on the most commonly owned, lawfully carried handguns in America. In a statement, the NRA accused Connecticut lawmakers of criminalizing law-abiding citizens rather than targeting actual criminals, arguing that millions of Americans depend on Glock firearms for self-defense every day.
Gun control advocates have celebrated the legislation as a meaningful step toward reducing gun violence, noting that Glock switches have become increasingly common in criminal activity across the United States. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that the small, inexpensive devices can transform a standard pistol into a weapon capable of emptying a magazine in seconds, making them particularly dangerous in active shooter situations.
The ban is expected to face legal challenges from gun rights organizations who argue it violates the Second Amendment. Similar bans in California and Maryland have already been subject to litigation, with outcomes that could influence the constitutional viability of Connecticut's new law. The debate over Glock bans reflects the broader national conversation about how to balance individual gun rights with public safety in an era of increasing firearms-related violence.