NICS February, 2022 3rd Highest Feb for Gun Sales, 4th for total Checks

AmmoLand ^ | March 7, 2022 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

February of 2022 was the third highest February for gun sales since the National Instant background Check System (NICS) started in 1998. It was the fourth-highest number of NICS checks done during the month of February.

Only 46 percent of the National Instant background Check System checks were for carry permits and carry permit rechecks in February of 2022. In February of 2021, the carry permits and permit rechecks were about 60 percent of total NICS checks.

Lines are from 2021. Bars are in 2022.

The change seems related to the implementation of a reformed FOID card system in Illinois. Public Act 102-0237 went into effect in January. It appears to have reduced the number of background checks conducted by Illinois state police by hundreds of thousands of checks a month.

• In February of 2021, there were about 3.44 million NICS checks, total.
• In February of 2022, there were about 2.55 million NICS checks, total.
• Those total NICS numbers include all the checks done for carry permits and carry permit rechecks.
• There were about 1.30 million guns sold using the NICS checks in February of 2022.
• In February of 2021, there were about 1.35 million sold.
• In February of 2020, there were about 1.24 million sold
• In February of 2016, there were about 1.41 million sold

Gun sales remain at levels well above historical averages. The number of gun owners in the United States continues to grow, while interest in and desire for guns remains high.

This correspondent believes the demand for firearms is being driven by uncertainty domestically and in foreign affairs. Crime rates have risen sharply during the run up to the 2020 election with several Democrat states and cities announcing some crimes will not be effectively prosecuted. Police moral is low in those areas.

[marktwain]

Gun sales remain at high levels. Ammunition supply may be a constraint on sales.

[Texas Fossil]

“Ammunition supply may be a constraint on sales.”

Yes. And the “price” of ammunition is also a constraint on sales.

And reloading components are still in short supply and still very expensive. Particularly primers.

You told me quite a while back that primer and powder is still out there if you are persistent. You were correct.

And the resourcefulness of people who reload ammo still amazes me.

[jimmygrace]

Thank you, Ivy League geniuses! You told us we didn’t need guns, then you told us we didn’t need cops. Thanks to you, there are more first time gun owners than ever in the USA, and they won’t be eager to give up their property.