September 2023 NICS Numbers and Gun Sales Continue Trend of Fifth Highest Month

Lines are from 2022, bars are from 2023

Gun sales and National Instant background Check System (NICS) numbers for September of 2023 continue the trend of being the fifth highest for the month. The first full year of NICS records is for 1999.  The history of NICS now covers the last 25 years. NICS checks were recorded at 2,104,825 for September of 2023.. Gun sales for September are estimated at 1.09 million. NICS does not track gun sales directly. Multiple gun sales can be done with one background check. 25 states have permit systems which can be used instead of a separate background check. Background checks are done for multiple purposes besides gun sales. The number of background checks done for each gun sale has varied considerably from year to year.

According to estimates by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), September of 2023 is the 50th continuous month on record in which gun sales in NICS exceeded 1 million guns. August and September have been reasonably close in NICS numbers for most of NICS history. August has had slightly more NICS checks than September for the last six years. Only two Octobers in the last 25 years have had NICS checks lower than the previous September.

This correspondent expects October of 2023 numbers to be significantly higher than those for September because of the recent events in Israel. Israel has strict restrictions on the private ownership of firearms. There are only about 150,000 private guns in the country, or about 1.6 for each 100 Israelis. The restrictions are part of the legacy of Israel being founded as a socialist country.  500 dead Israelis is a large number for a small country, with a population of less than ten million people.  Many Americans will look at this attack, the number of unarmed Israelis, and come to the conclusion they need weapons of their own, as governments cannot reliably protect their citizens.

The world is in some sort of significant transition period. Historically, it looks a little like the world prior to World War I, or prior to World War II. There is considerable unrest against the existing world order. Inside the United States, the current administration seems intent on destroying the Bill of Rights and the balance of power so as to insure a one party rule by the left for the foreseeable future.  Leftists rule many states and cities, and act surprised when their policies produce chaos and uncertainty. Ordinary citizens are appalled at the lack of order. This is part of what has driven gun sales to the new normal of over a million every month.

Ammunition prices appear stable at the moment. It is a good time to stock up if you have the means. Ammunition is a hard asset which maintains value. Inflation is going to hit ammunition prices if it has not done so yet. Quality ammunition, if stored in a cool, dry place, has a shelf life measured in decades.

Guns and ammunition are commodities for uncertainty and difficulty. When people no longer trust the authorities, they desire the ability to protect themselves. The United States has a long tradition of spontaneously organizing local militias to maintain order during periods of local emergency and disorder. The United States has more firearms and ammunition per person than any other country on the planet.

©2023 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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