August sees 13.5% increase in firearms sales checks over same month last year; 15th straight month over month increase

The August 2011 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 815,858 is an increase of 13.5 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 718,971 in August 2010. For comparison, the unadjusted August 2011 NICS figure of 1,300,433 is an increase of 20.2 percent over the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,082,360 in August 2010.

This marks the fifteenth straight month over month increase in NSSF-adjusted NICS figures.

The adjusted NICS data were derived by NSSF by subtracting out all NICS purpose code permit checks used by several states such as Kentucky, Iowa 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.