February 2014 firearms sales checks third highest on record

The February 2014 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,264,010 is the third highest February on record for the system, even with a decrease of 22.7 percent compared to the February 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,634,309 (February 2014 figures are a virtual tie with 2012 for the second highest on record for the month). For comparison, the unadjusted February 2014 NICS figure of 2,073,978 reflects a 9.8 percent decrease from the unadjusted NICS figure of 2,298,561 in February 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.