The number of firearms background checks conducted in August 2024 bested August 2023’s total by 8.3 percent — and also broke the 1-million mark for the 61st straight month.
The adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,210,995 is an increase of 93,174 compared to the August 2023 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,117,821. August 2024 marks the 61st consecutive month that has exceeded 1 million adjusted background checks in a single month.
The adjusted NICS data were derived by subtracting out 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.
These statistics represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS. They do not represent the number of firearms sold or sales dollars.
Twenty-four states currently have at least one qualified alternative permit, which under the Brady Act allows the permit-holder, who has undergone a background check to obtain the permit, to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer without a separate additional background check for that transfer. The number of NICS checks in these states does not include these legal transfers based on qualifying permits.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) started subtracting permit rechecks in February 2016, calling the changes adjustments. They vary significantly from the raw NICS numbers.
For comparison, the unadjusted August 2024 FBI NICS figure 2,163,540 reflects a 5.7% percent increase from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,047,512 in August 2023.
Though not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provide an additional picture of current market conditions. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions for sales or transfers of new or used firearms.
