A coalition of gun rights groups has filed a lawsuit against New York officials regarding a new state law that bans Glocks and similar pistols. The law, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in May 2026, is set to take effect in May 2027. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, argues that the ban violates Supreme Court precedent affirming the right to carry firearms, including handguns. The plaintiffs include the National Rifle Association, Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, and Firing Pin LLC.
The lawsuit contends that Glocks are not significantly different from other semiautomatic handguns and that the ban would limit access for New Yorkers to a shrinking market of firearms. It cites the Supreme Court's 2008 ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, which upheld the right to own handguns for self-defense, and requests a federal judge to invalidate the ban as a violation of the Second Amendment.
Statements from gun rights advocates emphasize that the ban targets popular handguns and criticize the state's handling of violent crime. Similar bans in other states, such as California, are also mentioned. The Supreme Court is expected to hear cases regarding semiautomatic rifle bans in the upcoming term, which may have broader implications for gun legislation across the country.