Posted on 02/04/2017 8:31:27 PM PST by markomalley
The number of gun-related background checks performed by the FBI in January were down significantly from the record number from last January.
The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, processed 2,043,184 gun-related checks through January 2017, records released on Friday show. That's more than 500,000 fewer checks than the record set the year before. It comes on the heels of a streak that saw 18-straight months of new monthly records, and two new yearly records as well.
January's total still saw the third most checks for any January going back to 1998 despite its drop off from record-setting pace.
NICS checks are widely considered the most accurate measure of how many guns were sold in a given month because nearly all sales conducted through licensed dealers require a check. However, it is not a one-to-one representation for a number of reasons. The fact that most states don't require a NICS check on sales between non-dealers and that more than one firearm can be purchased with a single check are some of the factors that lower the measures accuracy.
"These statistics represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS," the FBI noted in its report. "They do not represent the number of firearms sold. Based on varying state laws and purchase scenarios, a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale."
Gun rights activists long attributed the high level of gun sales in recent years to former president Obama's efforts to institute new gun control measures. They also pointed to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's gun control positions, which her own campaign labeled the most "forceful" in modern history, as a catalyst. With Republican Donald Trump, who activists view as gun-friendly, in the White House they said most gun owners are no longer motivated to buy at such a high rate.
"No Obama, no Clinton, no gun prohibition, no problem," Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation said. "No rush to buy a gun before your rights are infringed. Of course gun sales are down."
Less pressure on gittin’ ‘er done RIGHT NOW!
Gun sales are still firing along at a robust pace.
No more 2A threat for a while, so the firearm consuming citizenry is catching it's breath after Obama/Clinton induced sales rush.
Yeah, it is a good thing. Now they can spend their money on drones.
The down side of this is the lack of sales for the gun industry.
This is good news! It means all those stories about liberals buying guns were more FAKE NEWS!
Remember all that ammunition that the Obama Administration bought? Well, now it is Trump’s ammunition! Sweet! ;-)
I’ve bought my last five guns without a NICS check. None required if the purchaser has a CCL in my state. So using the NICS check as a way to count firearms purchases is way off.
I don't "need" any more guns, however I want a few more and hopefully will get them without a NICS check. I have friends in low places.
Good, maybe the price of ammo will go down and availability will go up.
200 rounds is about 2 hours of range time. Make it 2,000 and I’m with you.
L
Folks better start buying again. It’s getting very dangerous out there. In fact, I’m fixin’ to go buy another one.
“I’ve bought my last five guns without a NICS check. None required if the purchaser has a CCL in my state. So using the NICS check as a way to count firearms purchases is way off.”
Unfortunately, first-time buyers don’t have that advantage, so the NCIS checks are a pretty good measure of those buying a gun for the first time. We, like you are multi-gun owners, so we are not “spreading” gun ownership.
200 rounds is just an ordinary day at the range. You really need at least 10,000 rounds per battle rifle.
I think many people “over-bought” under Obama for fear of civil unrest and increased restrictions; we may be at a point where everyone who wants a gun has one (or two, or three...).
Maybe some of that ammo can be sold off at reduced prices to the public as government surplus!
Yep, 10k per gun here. If I have 3 5.56mm, I 'll have 30k rounds. I have had more than that since the Kringtong era gun grab...bought a bunch of IMI, South African, S. Korean, and Spanish military surplus. Man...that was 20 years ago.
Add 12-20 magazines + spare parts per gun and you are within the "good to go" zone.
I think you left off some zeros. 2,000 rounds is more like a starting supply for a “battle rifle”. First time I got into a gun fight with 200 rounds was the last time. Everybody was low or out and the NVA kept coming.
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