Data released by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reported 968,145 checks in June 2009. This figure is an 18.1% increase from the 819,891 reported in June 2008, according to a press release by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.



This latest jump in background checks follows the release of a Rasmussen survey showing 57% of Americans attribute the rise in gun sales to a fear of increased government restrictions on firearms ownership.

FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing either newly manufactured or used firearms from federally licensed retailers. As such, the checks serve as a gauge of sales but do not reflect the actual number of firearms produced or sold.


The June increase follows a 15.4% rise in May and increases of 30.3% in April, 29.2 percent in March, 23% in February, 28%in January, 24 percent in December and 42% in November when a record 1,529,635 background checks were performed.


Background checks for the first six months of 2009 totaled 7,035,286, a 24.48%increase over the 5,651,584 for the same period for 2008.


The increase coincides with a rise in excise taxes reported by firearms and ammunition manufacturers, another key economic indicator for the firearms industry.


The total number of background checks reported since the beginning of NICS is 103,019,294.