December 2014 Firearms Sales Checks Second Highest December on Record

The December 2014 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,624,524 is the second highest December on record for the 16-year-old system, with an increase of 7.5 percent compared to the December 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,510,529. For comparison, the unadjusted December 2014 NICS figure of 2,301,386 reflects a 13.2 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 2,032,755 in December 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.