“Product Classification Matters”

One of the key components of regulatory compliance in the firearms industry is having confidence that each product that an FFL makes or sells is properly classified. That is, the first questions to be asked are: 1) what is it, and 2) how is it regulated? The attorneys at Braum | Rudd can help.

The importance of firearm classification was recently highlighted in an August 29, 2025 Open Letter from ATF to all federal firearms licensees that can be found HERE. In it, ATF details the history of classification, reclassification, and re-reclassification of two particular products to determine whether and how they were governed under the National Firearms Act. A firearm’s classification can impact how a product may be sold, where it may be sold, to whom it may be sold, what forms and approvals are required, whether and by whom it may be transported across state lines, etc.  

With many moving parts and, at times, vacillating and shifting opinions from regulators, the classification process – from initial review, to official submissions, to subsequent challenges – is not something to be undertaken alone or without prior experience. Every situation is different, and sometimes market realities dictate a course other than submission directly to ATF. Braum | Rudd is here to help you navigate these processes, stay out of hot water, and protect your bottom line.  

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