After some down months vs year-earlier numbers, the National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that May’s NICS total were up slightly over May 2018. All in all, good news. While not a perfect measure of firearm sales, NICS checks are a decent barometer of the state of the business. Here’s the NSSF’s press release . . .
The May 2019 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 910,910 is an increase of 0.7 percent compared to the May 2018 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 904,834. For comparison, the unadjusted May 2019 FBI NICS figure 2,320,918 reflects a 17.0 percent increase from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 1,983,346 in May 2018.
The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting out NICS purpose code permit checks and permit rechecks used by states for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases. NSSF started subtracting permit rechecks in February 2016.
Though not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provide an additional picture of current market conditions. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions for sales or transfers of new or used firearms. FBI NICS and NSSF-adjusted NICS figures do not account for firearm sales or transfers using approved alternate permits such as a concealed carry license. Several states allow the use of such alternate permits that have become popular among consumers over the past several years.
It should be noted that these statistics represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS. They do not represent the number of firearms sold or sales dollars. Based on varying state laws, local market conditions and purchase scenarios, a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale.
People are probably afraid that more infringements are coming from trump. I don’t understand how anyone can support him.
He has done more damage than Obama.
You must be high. Or just another frustrated Clinton voter.
See your not capable of putting forward a real argument. Just rudeness. You will trade away rights for immigration reform and economic policy. It makes me sad.
Biatec – Have you forgotten who would be the POTUS if not Trump? Do you somehow think that Trump has been worse for the Second Amendment than the Hildabeast would have been? Okay, the silly ammo-wasting gadgets the bump stocks have been banned. You can’t put one on your “modern sporting rifle” legally anymore. Do you think that it would even be legal to own a “modern sporting rifle” or any other kind of semi-auto firearm now if Clinton were in the Oval Office? The Second American Civil War would be in full swing by now. I’ll take Trump any day over the Hildabeast.
First about the Bump stock. It’s not about the bump stock. It’s about how it was banned. It means when not if the dems are back in power they will be able to push more arbitrary reinterpretations that don’t make any sense. It’s really really bad.
Hillary would be a do nothing in office president. Yes I would rather someone who can’t do anything because the republicans would be partisan and pretend to be anti gun. Instead everyone goes to sleep when Trump is in office and now there is talk of banning suppressors. I do not think things would be any worse under a democrat. It’s always worse under a republican.
I know the bill clinton assault weapons ban happened but all lasting horrible gun laws are republican doing.
the republicans would at least pretend to be pro gun I meant* Sorry have not sipped my coffee yet.
you fail to see the obvious…this guy is not worthy of our support…
Well I got a gat in May. Hopefully more on the way😄
Gun MFG’S could improve their mark share if they would start producing the 5mm Rimfire firearms(esp TAURUS the Model 590 Tracker) and BIATEC is right about TRUMP he will LOSE SUPPORT fast. THANKS Lafe Sturdevant
Suppressor sales are going to go through the roof..
Why, cuz they’ll be deemed contraband?
Get those numbers up!
Looks like we are still at about twice as many gun sales as in any of the first five years of this century.
What Trump slump?
In last couple of years five of my friends got their first AR15. All of them built it from 80% lower. I may or may not have built couple of them myself. Not one is going to show on these stats.