June 2015 Firearms Sales Checks Highest June on Record; 2nd Qtr is second highest on record

The June 2015 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 886,825 is the highest June on record for the 17-year-old system, with an increase of 10.1 percent compared to the June 2014 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 805,571. The second quarter 2015 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 2,793,230 is the second highest second quarter on record — a 4.5 percent increase over second quarter 2014 and surpassed only by second quarter 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.