March 2020 Firearms Sales Were Through the Roof

The March 2020 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 2,375,525 is an increase of 80.4 percent compared to the March 2019 NSSF-adjusted figure. This is by far the highest March recorded.

The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting out NICS purpose code permit checks used by several states for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases.

Though not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provide a more accurate picture of current market conditions. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions of firearms sales and transfers on new and used handguns and long guns.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and a certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.