NICS Checks Numbers Are In For March; Busiest Time In History With 2.5M Guns Sold

March 2020 was the single most busiest month for gun purchases than any other time in history, all because of the coronavirus pandemic.

We’ve seen photos and stories of gun shops having lines wrapped around their buildings, and new gun owners flooding to the scene, and now we have the numbers as a result of the buying.

From the NSSF, based on the image they provided below:

The March 2020 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 2,375,525 is an increase of 80.4 percent compared to the March 2019 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,317,114. For comparison, the unadjusted March 2020 FBI NICS figure 3,709,562 reflects a 42.4 percent increase from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,604,927 in March 2019. NSSF Members can log in (https://nssf.it/2M07fUP) for more details and to access historical data.

Though not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provide an additional picture of current market conditions. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions for sales or transfers of new or used firearms.

It should be noted that these statistics represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS. They do not represent the number of firearms sold or sales dollars. Based on varying state laws, local market conditions and purchase scenarios, a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale.

The conclusion: Americans are buying guns at a high rate, many of which are new gun owners. It’s the first time in history that many took a step back and asked themselves; How can I protect myself and my family if the government can’t?

And this is the result.