The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported that the July 2025 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure fell 8.1 percent year-over-year, marking the sixth consecutive month of declines.
NSSF-adjusted NICS were 978,731, compared to the July 2024 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,064,790. The decline has continued a downward trend since October 2024, except for a slight increase in January 2025.
The adjusted NICS data subtracts out NICS purpose code permit checks and permit recheck, which are used by states for CCW permit applications and ongoing checks of active CCW permit databases. NSSF began subtracting permit rechecks in February 2016.
For comparison, the unadjusted July 2025 FBI NICS figure of 1,936,621 represents a 4.2 percent decrease from the unadjusted July 2024 FBI NICS figure of 2,021,235.
Additional insights into the month-over-month NICS data from GunBroker, as well as NICS Reporting & Analysis (July 2025 data), are available in the member portal under Industry Research.
- Top 5 states for adjusted NICS checks: TX, FL, CA, PA, VA
- Top 5 states for FBI NICS handgun checks: TX, FL, CA, PA, TN
- Top 5 states for FBI NICS long gun checks: TX, FL, CA, PA, VA
Image courtesy Silver Eagle Group / Chart courtesy NSSF
