In August, 2016 continued on its record breaking pace to become the year with the most gun sales ever. In August the pace slowed slightly, while breaking the previous record from last year. The 2016 NICS checks are far ahead of those for 2015, the previous record holder.
In 2015, the total NICS checks for the year were 23,141,970 . In 2015, through June, the numbers were 10,466,243. Through July, they were 12,067,075. Through August, 2015, they were 13,812,485.
1,853,815 checks were done in August, 2016 making 17,880,475 checks done for 2016 so far.
2016 is about two months ahead of the 2015 record. It is 29.5% ahead of where 2015 was at this time. If this pace continues, 2016 will end up with 30 million background checks for the year. In August, the scorching pace for 2016 has slackened a bit.
There are 15 years where we can compare the NICS background checks to the actual addition to the private firearms stock, as reported to the ATF. During that period there have been about .6 firearms added for each NICS check.
The NICS checks are done for more than new firearms. They are done for used firearms as well. They are done when trade ins are sold at gun shops or when used guns are sold at gun shows. NICS checks are done for gun carry permits, which are also breaking records every month.
We will not know exactly how many guns have been added to the private stock in 2016 until late January, 2018. The numbers will not be reported to the ATF until the end of 2016. The ATF is required by law to hold them from public view for a year, to prevent proprietary information from being released.
It is easy to see how one manufacturer would like to know exactly how many guns of certain models and calibers their competitors are selling.
Given the NICS numbers, if there are 30 million checks done in 2016, there will probably be 18 million guns added to the private stock. That would increase the private stock to 406 million private firearms in the United States.
The private firearm stock in the United States will have increased by nearly 100 million firearms, or 30%, during the two terms of the Barack Obama presidency.
To reach that number there will need to be 12 million more NICs checks done in 2016 from, 1 September to 31 December. In 2015, 9.33 million NICS checks were done in that period.
That would be a remarkable achievement.
It is not clear why the number of NICS check slowed a little in August. It is still a record.
Many indicators show a soaring and diverse level of gun ownership. Carry permits are burgeoning, approaching 15 million and more. Gun ownership among women and minorities is at an all time high.
Who would have thought that the presidency of Barack Obama would be such a boon to American gun manufacturers?
©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
Isn't this absolute proof they are not needed? the number of gun owners increases by many millions while the crime rate goes down. How many crimes are being accomplished with registered guns? There are so few criminals that apply for back ground checks. the criminals are being reduced at a steady pace by legal gun owners. Criminals always get their guns without a back ground check. a recent reported crime. criminal points the gun and pulls the trigger and nothing happened. He did not know how to load it and he had stolen an empty gun.
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