NICS for April 2024: Fifth Highest in Gun Sales and Background Checks

AmmoLand ^ | May 21, 2024 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

According to FBI records from the National Instant Background Check System (NICS), April 2024 was the fifth highest on record for gun sales and background checks for that month. The month follows a pattern which has developed over the last five years. A gradual drop in sales and background checks from the record-level highs of 2020 and 2021 has become consistent.

Even with the drop in sales, the numbers are still at or above the “new normal” established during President Obama’s second term. President Obama was given the honorary title of “the best gun salesman ever.” In the NSSF chart for gun sales by year, you can easily compare adjusted annual sales from before 2008 and after 2008. With President Obama’s election in 2008, annual gun sales bumped to record levels.

NSSF-Adjusted NICS Month of April – 25-Year History NSSF-Adjusted NICS Annual Totals (in millions): 24-Year History

By 2012, gun sales were about 50% higher than sales pre-Obama. With the revolutionary election of President Trump and his phenomenal success in the Oval Office, gun sales dropped but never retreated to pre-Obama levels.

The deeply flawed election of 2020 set off more records, with gun sales roughly three times higher than they were only 15 years earlier. In 2005, NSSF showed adjusted gun sales of 7.5 million for the year. In 2020, 21.1 million gun sales, or 2.8 times the sales of 2005. Population in the USA increased from 296 million to 331 million, about 12% in the same time period.  Gun sales increased from .025 per person in 2005 to .064 per person when comparing 2005 to 2020.  NSSF reports gun sales have remained over one million per month for the last 57 months.

[marktwain]

Gun sales are down compared to last year, but high by historical levels.

[Deaf Smith]

Anyone tracking bulk ammunition sales?

I do note bulk ammunition prices have increased a lot over the past three years.

[apillar]

The amazing thing about it is that guns are "durable goods" meaning that if you purchase a gun, it's not something you'll need to replace in a year or two (unless you're really unlucky or really hard on your guns). Most gun owners hold onto a particular gun their entire life and pass it down to their heirs. So that means if ~20 million guns are being sold every year and that number is increasing not decreasing. Then the total pool of guns in private hands is increasing by that amount every year as well.

Must drive the gun grabbers crazy, they have to realize they would have an easier time banning and confiscating every ball point pen in America than every gun. No ban or confiscation scheme will ever make a dent in the hundreds of millions of guns in private hands.

[redfreedom]

“No ban or confiscation scheme will ever make a dent in the hundreds of millions of guns in private hands.”

That’s been my contention for some time. There are so many out there. Gun grabbing in red states where local sheriffs will not help out could be nearly impossible.

Properly stored ammo keeps for decades, and the ammo in storage is likely quite plentiful too. I’ve been shooting ammo made in the 90’s, and it works perfectly.

The 2A is a right that is ingrained into our society. We will not willingly give up our guns like the Australians.

[redfreedom]

My name will be among the stats for May 2024. A brand new H&R M16a1 nearly identical to the Vietnam era issue will be in my hands May 28th.

[marktwain]

We went over 500 million mark for privately owned guns as of October, 2023.

[rktman]

“KNOWN”.

[gundog]

PSA is doing the Lord’s work.

[bantam]

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PSA love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gundog]

PSA’s acquisition of Nodak Spud is likely responsible for their ventures into retro ARs. Is the lower receiver a slick-side?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

As I often say, inventory your guns to see which ones have a paper trail to you. I wish I had all the firearms back I bought before the 1968 gun control act went into force.