July 2015 Firearms Sales Checks Highest July on Record

The July 2015 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 946,528 is the highest July on record for the 17-year-old system, with an increase of 15.9 percent over the July 2014 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 816,588. For comparison, the unadjusted July 2015 NICS figure of 1,589,462 reflects a 14.0 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,393,705 in July 2014.

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.