FIREARMS IN UNFAIR PRACTICES ACT

SB 318 amends New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act to explicitly include firearms and destructive devices within the scope of consumer protection laws. The bill defines key terms like "firearm" (including handguns and rifles, but excluding antique firearms or construction tools) and "destructive device" (such as bombs, large-caliber weapons, or conversion devices), clarifying what falls under these categories for enforcement. It expands private legal remedies, allowing individuals to sue sellers for deceptive or unfair trade practices related to firearm sales - such as falsely claiming legality or misrepresenting products - under existing consumer protection statutes. The bill does not ban firearms but integrates them into the state's framework for addressing deceptive business conduct in sales.