The FBI completed 2.18 million gun background checks on an NSSF-adjusted basis in June, a hike of 135.7 percent compared to the June 2019 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 924,054. The rate builds on gains of 75.2 percent in May, 69.1 percent in April and 41 percent in March.
The surge in firearms background checks is being attributed to concerns over the impact of a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and more recently anxieties over the protests for racial justice. As the 2020 presidential election approaches, demand for guns has surged amid concerns over the arrival of tighter regulations.
The second quarter 2020 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 5.45 million reflects an increase of 92.8 percent over the 2.83 figure for second quarter 2019.
For comparison, the unadjusted June 2020 FBI NICS figure 3.91 million reflects a 70.6 percent increase from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2.29 million in June 2019. The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting NICS purpose code permit checks and permit rechecks used by states for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases.
