May 2015 Firearms Sales Checks Second Highest May on Record

The May 2015 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 918,707 is the second highest May on record for the 17-year-old system, with an increase of 4.7 percent compared to the May 2014 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 877,655. For comparison, the unadjusted May 2015 NICS figure of 1,570,893 reflects a 6.4 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,476,318 in May 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.