Posted on 01/11/2013 3:00:25 PM PST by blam
Alabama Leads The Way In Nationwide Run On Guns
By Challen Stephens cstephens@al.com
January 10, 2013 at 11:08 AM, updated January 11, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Alabama appears to have led the national run on guns last month.
It's not that Alabamians purchased the most. But Alabama saw the nation's largest spike in applications for firearm background checks, a sudden rise of 145 percent, between the months of October and December.
Federal background checks spiked in every single state following the presidential election and the shooting in Newtown, according to FBI data on background checks. Background checks normally rise before Christmas. But as 2012 ended with debate over gun control, the rise went well beyond the normal uptick for holiday shopping.
And the increased interest wasn't limited to the South.
Tennessee saw background checks rise 130 percent between October and December, the second largest spike. But an al.com analysis of federal background checks shows Tennessee was followed in order by Delaware, Mississippi, Oregon and Virginia. In all, 16 states filed for more than twice as many firearm background checks in December as in October. That includes Ohio, Rhode Island and Nevada.
The data comes from the FBI, and is not a perfect match with sales, as states have different requirements for checks and some customers are denied. But the rising interest in gun ownership is clear.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, December 2012 marked the highest number of background checks ever. The NSSF, based in Newtown, Conn., is the firearm trade association.
Nationally, Kentucky saw the smallest spike at the end of 2012, with background checks up just 17 percent from October to December. But that's because, according to the NSSF, Kentucky already conducts many more checks than other states, routinely inquiring about people who hold active concealed carry permits.
For perspective, Kentucky filled out 6 background check applications for every 10 citizens. No other state sees a fraction as much activity per capita.
Data source: NICS Firearm Background Checks, 2012
In terms of applications per capita, Alabama ranked 10th, with roughly nine background checks for every 100 citizens in 2012. However, Alabama jumped to 7th in background checks per capita during a busy December.
NSSF, which adjusts for those extra checks by Kentucky and a couple other states, found a small rise already starting nationwide in January of 2012 over January of 2011. Checks in June were up 25 percent over June of 2011. But the spike grows largest by year's end, as the NSSF's adjusted numbers show the FBI handled about 1.4 million checks in December of 2011 compared to more than 2.2 million in December of 2012. That's a year-over-year jump of 59 percent.
NSSF reports that December 2012 marked the 31st consecutive month that checks rose over the same month in the previous year.
According to the FBI, the National Instant Criminal Background System, or NICS, was launched in 1998. Federal Firearms Licensees can use the system to determine who is eligible to buy a firearm, checking for categories such as illegal aliens, fugitives, convicts, those who have been committed, individuals currently under restraining orders and military personnel who were dishonorably discharged.
"Before ringing up the sale, cashiers call in a check to the FBI or to other designated agencies to ensure that each customer does not have a criminal record or isn't otherwise ineligible to make a purchase. More than 100 million such checks have been made in the last decade, leading to more than 700,000 denials," reads the FBI information on the NICS web page.
However, recent political debate has turned to flaws in the system. For instance, states are not legally required to supply the records necessary to maintain a meaningful federal database. And unlicensed gun sellers can get around the system.
Updated on Jan. 10 at 7:44 p.m. to show Tennessee saw the second largest spike in background checks between October and December.
*We* will be in January’s count.
:)
Yeah. We danged Alabamians are gun crazy nuts. I love it. I just sold a gun. Had tons of calls to purchase it. I actually would not sell it unless I saw ID, and if you had a weapons carry permit. I am not going to sell some gang banger a weapon. I sold it too a guy who asked me to do a back ground check on him if I wanted too. My cousin is sheriff and it would be easy to do so. He had no problem with me making a copy of his drivers licenses for my records. Folks around here are honest. We take care of each other. We watch out for our neighbor’s house when they are gone. Local gun shop hardly has any guns or ammo. They have had a massive run on all of it.
It would be interesting to know the volume of ammo sales. I heard on the radio that Vt. had a 60% increase in gun sales for this time period. That’s quite an increase considering the fact that private sales are common.
:-)!
LLS
I’ve made my contribution; 5 new guns since the election. I bought a Sig P250 (because I didn’t have a 9mm), a Barretta Neos (because I didn’t have a .22 pistol), and another 870 (just because) the day after the election. I bought my son a Savage Model 11 for his Christmas present, and a Mossberg 715T (because they happened to have one at Walmart when I went to check ammunition stocks last Sunday).
Duh ... I get it now. Didn’t even notice the source. Thanks, blam. I know from personal experience that everyone is buying guns including many that never owned one before
Good. That's one of the most conservative/Republican areas in the state. It's in Baldwin County where there are ZERO Democrats in elected office anywhere in the county government.
In-fact....there are no Democrats in any elective state office either, we got rid of the last one in November.
Fairhope is to Mobile what Sausalito is to San Francisco. (Except conservative)
Yup.
Glad to see Alabama is giving it a good effort, though. :-)
I bought my first gun (actually bought three) when living in Houston during the Rodney King riots.
I helped!
That’s what I’ve heard, but if we move, it will be to a state that’s reliably anti Obama overall as well. This is important. Those states are where businesses will move, where doctors will move, and where patients who are willing to pursue freedom will move. Bama, MS, TX, OK look good. I don’t believe those saying TX is turning blue. I think the red folks moving in soon will negate that southern border issue.
But I’ve heard Baldwin County is awesome, and Fairhope I’ve heard is charming.
I was in the December count but I’m probably going to make it in Janurary also.
Roll Tide indeed! It’s time to put the capital back in Alabama.
Message to Zer0 and your henchmen.
Your on notice.
Woo-Hoo!
God bless and keep you!
I didn’t have any money to spare in December.
I helped the Tennessee stats ... bought pistols as Christmas presents this year: 2 - M57 Yugo Tokarevs; 1 - CZ82; 1 - New Beretta 8045; 2 - 32acp Bersa Thunders; 1 - Bersa UC 9mm Pro. Happiness is a warm gun dontchaknow! It was a happy holiday.
Oh yeah, and 1 - Sig P6 used but in fine shape with supreme holster
Why, I do believe those old boys intend to be a .... problem for Barky Boy when he declares his Dictatorship of the Proletariat!
Might just correlate to that giant Confederate flag on I-65 north of Monkeytown, ya think? We are talkin' heah about failyuh to comMEWnicate!! </Strother Martin>
Verra, verra puuur attitude!
Hmmm, you like those little bottle-shaped 7.62x25mm Tokarev pepperpots? They're a pretty hot cartridge for that caliber.
Didn't know Bersa was making their Thunder in .32 ACP; I thought all those Thunders were .380's.
If that SIG was a private purchase, hope you didn't put out any, um, paper on it.
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