December 2013 firearms sales checks second-highest on record

The December 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,510,529 is a decrease of 32.5 percent compared to the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 2,237,731 in December 2012. Despite the decrease, December of 2013 is the second highest December for NICS background checks. For comparison, the unadjusted December 2013 NICS figure of 2,032,755 reflects a 26.8 percent decrease from the unadjusted NICS figure of 2,776,105 in December 2012.

The NSSF-adjusted NICS 2013 year-end figure of 14,796,872 was a 7.4 percent increase over the 2012 year-end total of 13,780,285. For comparison, the unadjusted NICS year-end figure of 20,966,704 in 2013 was an increase of 7.7 percent over the 2012 year-end total of 19,463,832.

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.