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Despite a slight dip in numbers, Americans are still buying firearms by the millions—and they’re doing it with confidence that their rights will be protected.
According to new data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), April 2025 saw 1,174,294 NSSF-adjusted NICS background checks, a 3.4% decrease from April 2024. The unadjusted FBI numbers show a similar trend, with 2,194,006 checks in April 2025, down 2.1% from the year prior.
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“This isn’t a sign of slowing interest,” said Mark Oliva, NSSF’s Managing Director of Public Affairs. “Firearm ownership continues to be a priority for law-abiding citizens. The proof of that is over 1.2 million times in April, Americans freely approached the counter at their local firearm retailer to take lawful ownership of a firearm. These gun buyers did so with a commitment by the Trump administration that their Second Amendment rights would be protected and they wouldn’t be ostracized by their government for exercising rights protected by the U.S. Constitution.”
State-by-State Leaders for April Background Checks
Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and Colorado led the nation in total adjusted background checks.
For handgun checks, the top five states were:
- Texas
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- California
- Colorado
For long gun checks, the leaderboard remained similar, with Texas still dominating.
Important Context on Background Check Data
NSSF notes that these numbers don’t include all legal gun sales. In 24 states, individuals with valid concealed carry permits—already background-checked—can purchase firearms without an additional NICS check. The adjusted numbers also remove permit-related checks to better focus on transactions likely tied to retail sales.
So while NICS checks aren’t a direct sales metric, they provide a strong pulse of the firearms market—and that pulse is steady.
The Bottom Line
Millions of Americans continue to exercise their rights, regardless of slight monthly variations. With support from the White House and strong 2A advocacy, the message is clear: Gun ownership isn’t going anywhere.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
Background checks should be removed. It violates the Constitution.
Repeal all gun control and get rid of the ATF.
1934 National Firearms Act – Repeal it
1968 Gun Control Act – Repeal it.
1990 Gun Free School Zone Act – Repeal it
1994 Gun Free Schools Act – Repeal it so kids can start bringing their rifles to school for target training / shooting instruction classes.
Also, I seem to recall that at least 10 or so states that have an exclusive state data base other than the FBI’s NICS so should that 1.2 million be even higher? Do some states require background checks on ammo which might lower that 1.2 if the state is depending on the FBI data base?