The Gun Violence Prevention Clinic Joins Minnesota Attorney General's Office and Giffords Law Center in a Lawsuit Against Glock
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison '90 (AG) filed a lawsuit last week against gun manufacturer Glock and its Austrian parent company for manufacturing, marketing, and selling semi-automatic handguns that can easily be converted into illegal machine guns with a device known as a “Glock switch.” Minnesota Law's Gun Violence Prevention Clinic, led by visiting clinical professor of law Megan Walsh, and GIFFORDS Law Center are collaborating with the AG's office on the case. The clinic joined the AG's office, law enforcement officials, and victims' families at a press conference announcing the case in mid-December.
“I am suing Glock for knowingly manufacturing and selling handguns that can easily be converted into machine guns,” said Attorney General Ellison. “Glock’s actions, and their inaction, violate Minnesota law, and put kids, communities and law enforcement in danger. This has to stop. Today's lawsuit against Glock is about protecting our kids and protecting the guardians who look out for us.”
“It is critically important that we continue to hold individuals who commit crimes criminally accountable for their actions,” added Ellison. “It is also important that when corporations knowingly make, market, and sell products that put people’s lives in danger, we hold them civilly accountable. We can and must reduce gun violence and keep Minnesotans safe by pursuing justice using the tools of both criminal and civil law. One is not a substitute for the other; rather, when we use them together, we fight gun violence both downstream and upstream.”
“We are proud to partner with Attorney General Ellison and GIFFORDS Law Center in this lawsuit to hold Glock accountable for their wrongful product design and demand they do better,” said Rose Lewis '25, student director of Minnesota Law's Gun Violence Prevention Law Clinic.
Since its inception, the University of Minnesota Law School’s Gun Violence Prevention Clinic has worked in close partnership with the Minnesota Attorney General's office on both affirmative and defensive cases. The students and faculty in the Clinic serve as Special Assistant Attorneys General and represent Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in court.
Caption: Minnesota Law student Rose Lewis '25, Gun Violence Prevention Clinic student director speaks at the press conference.
Photo credit: Tony Nelson
