New Hampshire-based Q announced Wednesday that federal regulators have given the company's Cease & Desist order over its Honey Badger pistol a 60-day suspension. 

The latest notice, dated Oct. 9, was issued just three days after the company went public with news that the  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had determined the Q Honey Badger pistol in its current configuration is a short-barreled rifle regulated under the National Firearms Act. Republican lawmakers, related firearm industry partners, and the White House reportedly have now waded into the controversy over the pistol, which is fitted with a stabilizing brace. 

The current suspension, as noted in a letter from Joel Roessner, the ATF's Chief Counsel, to Q's attorney, is to allow the U.S. Department of Justice "to further review the applicability of the National Firearms Act to the manufacture and transfer" of the Honey Badger pistol.  The suspension will remain in effect for 60 days, "unless withdrawn or extended by ATF."

Q, in a statement, said the time frame of the pause is curious. 

"We believe this 60-day suspension is an effort to put manufacturers, distributors, and consumers at ease, and to postpone the issue past the presidential election in hopes that a new administration will take a different view," said the company. "Using licensees as political pawns is unbecoming of a regulatory agency and ignoring the underlying evaluation in this letter is simply irresponsible. Q will not succumb to this level or irresponsibility. Therefore, without further clarification from ATF on their evaluation, we will not continue manufacturing the Honey Badger Pistol."

This is a developing story. Check back to Guns.com for further updates. 
 

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