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New Mexico’s state Senate has passed a bill that would hold companies that sell certain gun parts liable if the weapons are used to commit crimes.
This is part of an overall effort to target companies that manufacture and sell firearms and their parts. State Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) championed the measure because he believes it is too easy to purchase parts that can convert semiautomatic firearms into automatic weapons.
SenateBill318wouldexpandthestate’sdefinitionswithintheUnfairPracticesActtocoverawiderarrayofgunsand“destructivedevices.”Thiscategoryincludesany“explosive,incendiaryorpoisongas:bomb;grenade;rockethavingapropellantchargeofmorethanfourounces.”
Thebillwouldclassifytheillegalmanufacturing,marketing,distributing,orsellingoffirearmsandotheritemsasunfairordeceptivetradepractices.Itwouldtargetanyone“knowinglymanufacturing,advertising,distributingorofferingforsaleafirearm,destructivedevice,firearmpartorfirearmaccessorycontrarytothelawsofNewMexicoortheUnitedStates.”
Oneoftheprovisionsaddressesactions“causingcon
