May 2014 Firearms Sales Checks Second Highest May on Record

The May 2014 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 877,655 is the second highest May on record for the system, even with a decrease of 9.9 percent compared to the May 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 974,457. For comparison, the unadjusted May 2014 NICS figure of 1,476,318 reflects a 3.6 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,424,450 in May 2013.

The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting out NICS purpose code permit checks used by several states such as Connecticut, Illinois, and Utah for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases.

Though not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provide a more accurate picture of current market conditions. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions of firearms sales and transfers on new and used handguns and long guns.