Connecticut has become the latest US state to ban the sale of Glock handguns after Governor Lamont signed a new law targeting the popular firearms over their potential for conversion to fully automatic weapons. The legislation specifically addresses the issue of Glock switches, devices that can transform semi-automatic Glocks into fully automatic pistols capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.
The new law goes beyond banning just the Glock brand, extending the prohibition to all firearms with a trigger mechanism similar to that found in Glock handguns. This broad approach aims to prevent manufacturers from simply rebranding or slightly modifying their products to circumvent the ban.
Connecticut joins California and Maryland as the third US state to implement such a ban, creating a growing patchwork of state-level gun restrictions that exist alongside federal firearms law. Lawmakers argue that the ease with which Glocks can be converted to automatic weapons makes them a particular public safety concern.
The National Rifle Association responded with fierce condemnation, calling the law a violation of the Second Amendment. In a statement, the NRA said the legislation is nothing less than a direct attack on the most commonly owned, lawfully carried handguns in America. The organization accused Connecticut lawmakers of criminalizing law-abiding citizens by banning the very firearms millions of Americans depend on every day for self-defense.
The ban is likely to face legal challenges given the current conservative majority on the US Supreme Court and recent rulings that have expanded interpretations of Second Amendment rights. For now, Connecticut gun owners who already possess Glocks are not required to surrender them, but no new sales will be permitted under the new law.