A letter recently posted in a few online gun groups is making gun owners shake their collective heads. The letter, sent by ATF, explains that the recently released semiautomatic AA-12 shotgun should actually be classified as a machine gun. This is due to the right side plate of the receiver being identical between the two versions. It is this component that the ATF classifies as a firearm.

ATF Decisions

This determination makes all of the semiauto AA-12's into NFA items, subjecting them to severe restrictions on manufacturing and ownership. The ATF is currently reaching out to those who purchased these shotguns, requiring owners to surrender them or risk violating federal law.

ATF Also Confiscating Post Sample Full Auto AA-12s

The ATF also has confiscated at least one full-auto post sample AA-12. The report comes from AR15.com user SFHC who stated that the AA-12 was obtained with a valid demo letter as required by law.

The ATF says that the manufacturer didn't correctly mark the gun. As a result, the ATF stated they were going door to door and collecting every post sample AND semi-auto AA-12.

In the letter, the ATF says “ATF has determined that the markings on the AA-12 are not accurate, and the manner in which the marking were placed is not in compliance with federal law.” Sadly there is no information beyond that.

Stay Tuned for AA-12 Info

We will keep you up to date as new information regarding this becomes available. Until then, I recommend you hide your dogs and try to stay on the right side of the law. You may not be pretty, but you're definitely too pretty for prison.

We have reached out to Sol Invictus Arms as well as the ATF and have not received a response yet.