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Contrary to what some mainstream media outlets might portray, data from the American background check system ‘NICS’ shows that guns aren’t “icky” and the shooting sports is still a popular recreational activity. 2019 marks the first year that recorded more than two million NICS checks per month. The data comes with a caveat: due to state permitting, transfer processes and other transactions, NICS checks do not directly correlate with gun sales. Even so, more than two million NICS checks a month for six months is a significant figure. With all the recent rhetoric, you’d think firearms were being destroyed at a record pace. Details from the original article can be found below.
More Than Two Million NICS Checks Per Month In 2019
NICS firearm background checks surpass 2 million every month for first 6 months of 2019 – myfox8.com
POSTED 5:39 PM, JULY 9, 2019, BY MICHAEL HENNESSEY
FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — America has set a record for the number of firearm background checks run through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, month-by-month, to start a year.
“There’s really no rhyme or reason why there can be an uptick,” said Cpl. Roger Dunlap, the corporal over the permits unit for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
2019 is the first year where NICS firearm background checks have surpassed 2 million every month, January through June, since the NICS database was created in November 1998.
The database became operational on Nov. 30, 1998, five years after the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was enacted. Amending the Gun Control Act of 1968, interim previsions of the Brady Law became effective on Feb. 28, 1994 and ceased to apply on Nov. 30, 1998, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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As of June 30, the sheriff’s office saw 2,684 people apply for concealed permits and 3,169 apply for purchase permits in 2019.
“We roughly see 100 people a day here,” Dunlap said.
The largest number of NICS checks run thus far in 2019 were in March, when there were 2,644,851.
“As soon as we started, like the day that we opened, it just blew up,” said Jacob Gray, manager of Liberty Safe of Kernersville, where they sell both safes and firearms. “I’ve never been in a position to where it hasn’t been busy.”
Gray says they opened their Kernersville location in November 2017. NICS checks have surpassed the 2-million mark 17 of the 20 months since.
“People love shooting. People love getting out and using their guns and using them for what they’re for,” Gray said.
