September sees 14% increase in firearms sales checks over same month last year; 16th straight month over month increase

The September 2011 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 878,345 is an increase of 14 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 770,310 in September 2010. For comparison, the unadjusted September 2011 NICS figure of 1,244,604 is an increase of 9.2 percent over the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,139,980 in September 2010.

This marks the sixteenth 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.