For chrissakes...
A gauss rifle has to use some kind of conventional projectile because it is something that utilizes magnetic rails along the barrel to accelerate said projectile to near-light speeds. So long as the projectile in question can retain its form and solidity, its kinetic impact will pretty much obliterate anything along its path.
Guns are guns because they are conventional ballistics-based weaponry utilizing gunpowder for projection. A gauss rifle uses electromagnetic energy for its projection.
If anything, they had the classification wrong in the first two because of that distinction.
Sorry to ruin your spankfest over your nostalgia, for those of you whom that apology applies.
The classifications are based upon means and mechanism, not result.
Unarmed relies upon direct application of one's body, SUCH AS THE FIST.
Melee relies upon a wielded objected SWUNG AND THRUST BY THE HANDS.
Guns use GUNPOWDER.
Energy weaponry use ENERGY-BASED PROJECTION VIA ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCES.
God, some of you must be such the life of the party.
But Lasers arent propelled by electromagnetic forces, nor and tesla beams, or pulse projectile. Your argument applies only to plasma, but that is only to stabilize it before flight. Guns are classified as guns if they operate on the basis of throwing a ballistic projectile, energy weapons use energy, the result is the classification, you cant argue that the originals were wrong because they set the rules. you are arguing that something breaking the rules should become the new rule.