New York Glock ban challenged by NRA and Second Amendment Foundation

Pro-Second Amendment organizations have filed a federal lawsuit to block a New York law that bans the sale and transfer of Glock and Glock-style pistols. The legal challenge was brought in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), the National Rifle Association (NRA), and the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), alongside private citizens and a licensed dealer.

The law, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in May, targets convertible pistols to prevent illegal modifications into full-auto firearms. Under the statute, dealers or gunsmiths who sell or transport these pistols face class D felony charges. Violations occurring after May 31, 2027, could result in up to seven years in prison and fines exceeding $5,000.

The plaintiffs argue the ban violates the Second Amendment, citing the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller decision which protects arms in ‘common use.’ The complaint asserts that Glock pistols are among the most popular firearms in the nation and are not fundamentally different from other semiautomatic handguns, despite the potential for illegal modification. The lawsuit names several officials as defendants, including New York State Attorney General Letitia James and the Superintendent of the New York State Police.