Federal background checks were down 3.6 percent to 2.43 million in March from 2.52 million in the same month a year ago, but marked an improvement from double-digit declines seen since the election of Donald Trump.
In February, FBI background checks were down 14.5 percent to 2.23 million versus year-ago levels. In January, checks were down 19.7 percent to 2.04 million. In December 2016, checks were down 16.4 percent to 2.77 million.
Under the Obama administration, background checks continually reached record levels over concerns that restrictive gun laws would arrive. The FBI processed more than 27.5 million NICS checks in 2016. Checks rose 14.2 percent in November and 18.0 percent in October in anticipation of a Hillary Clinton victory.
