NICS Gun Sales for December 2023 and the Rest of the Year

AmmoLand ^ | January 9, 2024 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The number of gun sales estimated using the National Instant Background Check System, or NICS, for December of 2023 was about 1.74 million guns. This was the fourth-highest number of gun sales for December in the NICS system. The number of background checks was about 2.73 million. This was the sixth-highest December for NICS background checks.

December showed a slight drop in the trend for 2023 but is maintaining what has become the new normal of gun sales, which arguably started in 2011 when annual sales passed the 10 million mark.

2023 had the fourth-highest total for gun sales of any year recorded by the NICS system, about 15.31 million, which is virtually tied with the total gun sales for 2016.

The numbers in the NSSF chart above are slightly different because the NSSF and this correspondent use slightly different methods for estimating gun sales from NICS numbers. Given the inherent uncertainty of the estimates, the numbers are very close. Both estimates show years 2016 and 2023 are very close to each other for gun sales.

The total number of privately owned firearms in the United States of America is estimated at 503 million, or about 1.5 privately owned guns for every individual in the USA.  With a current population of people over the age of 18 at 265 million, there are about 1.9 firearms per adult in the USA.

2024 is a presidential election year. Electoral politics have become the most contentious since perhaps 1860. President Lincoln was elected in a four-way race. Ten southern states refused to have Lincoln on the ballot.  At the time, the southern states were not defying the Supreme Court. In 2023, several states are openly defying the Supreme Court decisions on the Second Amendment. About 40 percent of voters have serious concerns about the integrity of the election

[marktwain]

Correction: The 10 southern states did not have Lincoln on the ballot, because ballot were created by the parties, and the Republican party did not supply ballots in those states, as they were considered a lost cause.

[marktwain]

Shows complete year comparison of 2022 to 2023.

There are slight differences between my calculations and the NSSF, because of uncertainties in the numbers. They are reasonably close, and the relationship between years is the same.

[redfreedom]

In terms of sales, I guess I fit in there as I’m the new proud owner of a Springfield M1A 7.62x51 rifle in December.

My magnum Judge with a 10 inch barrel and an AR15 purchased in October whined because they were lonely. I bought a Glock 19x in November and they still whined. They never felt comfortable until the M1a came along.

To keep them in line and shut up I’ve got an M1 Garand in mind for some grandfatherly company.

[Delta 21]

I dont even like the function on most of my weapons that says “SAFE”, let alone putting them in a big steel box that goes by the same name. Especially since the manufacturers just give your combination out to the 1st yahoo that asks for it.

[chrisinoc]

I contributed to that total by getting a Ruger LC Carbine.

[Celtic Conservative]

I bought a Turkish 1911. $375 out the door. And that includes tax and transfer fee.

CC