Connecticut Glock-Style Handgun Ban Blocked by Federal Judge

A federal judge blocks Connecticut's Glock-style pistol ban hours before it was set to take effect — as similar bans and lawsuits play out in California, New York, Maryland, and Illinois. Connecticut's ban blocked: Connecticut's law banning "convertible pistols" with a cruciform trigger bar (which allows illegal switches/auto-sears to convert semi-automatics to fully automatic) was set to take effect Oct. 1, making sales a Class D felony. A lawsuit filed Sept. 21 led to a preliminary injunction issued by District Judge Karen Nelson Moore the day before the law would have taken effect. The judge said the ban is likely to fail a Second Amendment challenge, noting handguns with a cruciform trigger bar are "not only safe but extremely popular" for self-defense in their unconverted state, and cited a lack of law enforcement carve-out as a sign of irreparable harm. The injunction is preliminary — not a final ruling — meaning the case continues. Other states' bans: California: A similar ban, signed and effective October 2025, is being challenged by a DOJ lawsuit still active in court. New York: Passed as part of the May budget; takes effect May 2027, with lawsuits pending. Maryland: Passed this year, set to take effect January; a preliminary injunction request was denied last month. Illinois: Lawmakers have discussed a similar ban but haven't advanced it; a lame-duck veto session follows the November election. Broader DOJ gun litigation: The Trace reports DOJ's Civil Rights Division Second Amendment section has filed 10 lawsuits in the past year, including a new one in Minneapolis-St. Paul challenging permit-to-purchase delays, plus cases in L.A. County, the Virgin Islands, Washington D.C., Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. DOJ is also arguing in the Vera Montes case (the Cook County, IL gun ban) before the Supreme Court, with oral arguments set for December. California's new firearm package: Gov. Newsom signed a 10-bill firearm package, including a four-hour firearm safety certification requirement and a measure requiring 3D printers sold in California to include technology blocking the printing of firearms or "illegal" components — a provision that could face both Second and First Amendment challenges. Should states be able to ban handgun models over concerns they could be illegally converted? Leave your thoughts in the comments. #GunRights #SecondAmendment #Connecticut #GlockBan #CenterSquare #TheStates