In the wake of San Bernadino terror attack, December 2015 firearms sales jump 37.6% over prior year

In the wake of the December 2 terrorist attack in San Bernadino, CA, firearms retailers and concealed carry instructors reported a marked increase in business, as more and more people came to realize that the federal government has failed in it's primary job of protecting the homeland from attack. The numbers are now in, and the jump was sizeable.

The December 2015 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 2,235,560 is an increase of 37.6 percent compared to the December 2014 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,624,524. For comparison, the unadjusted December 2015 FBI NICS figure of 3,308,199 reflects a 43.7 percent increase from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,301,386 in December 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.

In the wake of President Obama's latest attempts to intimidate peaceable gun owners through executive actions, there is little doubt that January's sales numbers and concealed handgun license applications will continue on the rapid pace that have become common in the Obama years.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.