Industry Watch
Everytown Targets Ruger After Glock’s Redesign, Demands RXM Pistol Be Pulled
Everytown Targets Ruger After Glock’s Redesign, Demands RXM Pistol Be Pulled
📅
✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍United States
Everytown for Gun Safety has set its sights on Sturm, Ruger & Co., urging the prominent American gunmaker to cease production of its new RXM pistol. This demand comes on the heels of Glock's decision to discontinue several of its popular handguns, a change reportedly influenced by ongoing lawsuits and escalating pressure from gun control advocates. In a letter addressed to Ruger on Monday from Everytown's chief litigation counsel, Eric Tirschwell, the gun control group asserted that Ruger should prioritize public safety by either withdrawing the RXM from the market or reevaluating its internal trigger system. Everytown contends that the RXM incorporates a trigger mechanism akin to Glock's controversial cruciform design. This particular component, they argue, makes both brands' pistols susceptible to illegal modifications using devices known as switches or auto sears. Tirschwell's correspondence reflects a recognized trend within the firearm regulatory landscape. He stated, Ruger faces a choice following Glocks recent announcement: Will it continue to sell the RXM despite evidence of its convertibility to an illegal machine gun, or will it put public safety first? This demand from Everytown follows their claim of success in influencing Glocks production changes, which they heralded as a significant win for gun control advocacy. The organization has indicated plans to apply similar pressure on Ruger, one of the nations largest firearm manufacturers, leveraging their momentum if Ruger does not comply with their demands. In recent times, the issue of illegal conversion devices has gained national attention. Frequently labeled as "Glock switches," these accessories can convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons. Such devices have been increasingly recovered in criminal investigations across the United States, prompting significant concern among law enforcement and regulatory bodies. Despite Everytowns assertions, critics contend that the issue of illegal modifications extends beyond Glock products, with similar conversion devices existing for nearly every major firearm type, including AR-15 rifles. Glock's widespread popularity, however, has led to it becoming a common focal point for regulatory discussions and interventions. Adding to the dialogue, California recently enacted a law prohibiting the sale of pistols equipped with cruciform trigger bars, legislation to which Everytown claims substantial contribution. This law has already incited lawsuits from various gun rights organizations asserting that it violates established Supreme Court precedents which protect firearms commonly used by the public under the Second Amendment. In the case of Jaymes v. Bonta, plaintiffs maintain that semiautomatic handguns, including those featuring a cruciform trigger bar, cannot be subject to bans since they are among the most prevalent handguns in the market. Consequently, while some reforms have been welcomed in the industry, the ramifications of such legal shifts raise concerns that political and legal pressures could effectively lead to more stringent regulations or pushed design alterations across the landscape of firearm manufacturing. Everytown's recent focus on Ruger specifically criticizes the companys choice to adopt Glock-style designs, suggesting that the introduction of the RXM signifies a push towards exacerbating the issues of illegal machine gun proliferation. According to Tirschwell, this risk illustrated by social media videos showing RXM pistols with conversion devices raises significant safety questions, though it's worth noting that none of these instances involved factory modifications or legitimate accessories sold by Ruger. In summary, Everytowns demand for Ruger to pull its RXM pistol from production over hypothetical misuse underscores a more profound narrative surrounding firearm regulation. The group's framing of every gun model's potential for modification as a liability might open the gates for new regulatory action across many semi-autos in the industry.