Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has issued a letter to Sturm, Ruger & Co., raising concerns about the safety of the company’s semi-automatic pistols. The letter focuses on the ease with which these pistols, particularly the RXM model, can be converted into illegal fully automatic weapons using machine gun conversion devices (MCDs).
Tong’s action follows new powers given to his office under the Connecticut Firearms Industry Responsibility Act. This law allows civil enforcement against gun manufacturers, distributors, marketers, and retailers who do not take reasonable steps to prevent firearms from being sold to prohibited buyers or those intending harm. It also requires that firearm products are not designed in ways that make illegal conversion foreseeable. The Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act is also cited as an authority for this action.
“Ruger is on notice. They know, we know, and criminals know that their RXM pistol can be easily converted to an illegal, lethal fully automatic weapon. They can modify their product to be safer, or they can continue to profit from crime and violence and answer to a lawsuit,” said Attorney General Tong.
Law enforcement agencies in Connecticut have reported an increase in incidents involving MCDs. In 2023, federal authorities traced 31 such devices within the state during investigations. Hartford Police recovered 53 MCDs last year alone. Modified pistols have been found in various locations including parks, neighborhoods, streets, and even a hospital.
Gun safety group Everytown for Gun Safety has documented several violent incidents in Connecticut tied to these conversion devices:
– In 2023, attackers used MCD-equipped pistols to ambush and kill two men on a porch in Hartford.
– In 2024 in Hartford, a woman and her infant son were killed by a shooter with a modified pistol; another person was injured.
– A New Haven shooting involved two pistols—one converted—resulting in injuries and property damage.
– A Bridgeport man was shot while sitting at home during gang-related violence involving an MCD handgun.
– Police seized drugs and sixteen handguns—including three with MCDs—in a Hartford raid.
In response to lawsuits over similar issues, other firearm companies have changed course: Glock will discontinue certain models and redesign others to hinder conversion device use; Shadow Systems is expected to do likewise. However, according to Tong’s letter, Ruger continues marketing its pistols’ modifiability.
The letter requests that Ruger provide information regarding its plans for the RXM model and asks the company to preserve all records related to conversions of its handguns into automatic weapons as well as materials related to violent crimes involving such weapons.
“If the RXM can be easily converted to a machine gun by the attachment of an MCD, and videos my Office has seen indicate that it can, Ruger’s pursuit of profits over safety may be in violation of FIRA and CUTPA, by failing to enact reasonable controls to prevent the sale of legal firearms that can be easily converted to illegal firearms,” Attorney General Tong states in the letter. “I have grave concerns with Ruger’s design and marketing practices, and I will not hesitate to enforce our laws when they are violated,” he states further.
Attorney General Tong is being assisted by Assistant Attorney General Rebecca Quinn, Legal Intern Grace Craven, and Deputy Associate Attorney General Michael Wertheimer.
