January 2014 firearms sales checks second highest on record

The January 2014 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 970,510 is the second highest January on record for the system, even with a decrease of 45.8 percent compared to the January 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,790,154. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2014 NICS figure of 1,650,565 reflects a 33.5 percent decrease from the unadjusted NICS figure of 2,483,230 in January 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.