The NSSF’s Mark Oliva tells TTAG that . . .
Background checks for gun sales continue to be strong and steadily rising. Background checks in the fall months typically rise as hunting seasons open across the country, new firearm models are being introduced and gun buyers start to consider holiday sales.
The annual total so far of nearly 15.2 million background checks is putting 2021 on the path to being the second strongest year on record. It is currently behind only the record shattering 21 million background checks witnessed in 2020 and the 15.7 million background checks conducted during 2016.
This continued and sustained pace of background checks for firearm sales, that is climbing in the closing months of 2021, shows the resiliency of the firearm manufacturers to meet this sustained, high-level demand and the personal interest by the American public to participate in the exercise of their God-given Second Amendment rights.
Here’s the NSSF’s press release . . .
The October 2021 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,427,264 is a decrease of 19.3 percent compared to the October 2020 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,769,553. For comparison, the unadjusted October 2021 FBI NICS figure 2,577,913 reflects a 21.1 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 3,268,909 in October 2020.
The October 2021 figures were the second strongest for the month on record, surpassed only by October 2020, when 1,769,553 background checks for a firearm sale were conducted.
The total NSSF-adjusted NICS January – October 2021 reflects a decrease of 11.9% compared to the same time period in 2020.
Please note: Twenty-five states currently have at least one qualified alternative permit, which under the Brady Act allows the permit-holder, who has undergone a background check to obtain the permit, to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer without a separate additional background check for that transfer. The number of NICS checks in these states does not include these legal transfers based on qualifying permits and NSSF does not adjust for these transfers.
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.
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.
For additional information on NICS or to view a complete set of the current monthly reports, please visit the NICS website.
Questions concerning NSSF-adjusted NICS data should be directed to NSSF at 203-426-1320 or research@nssf.org. Additional research is available at nssf.org/research. NSSF members are able to access historical monthly NICS data by logging in and clicking on “Industry Research” then “NICS data.”