In a remarkable demonstration of the ongoing robust demand for firearms in the United States, the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reported an all-time high number of background checks for “Black Friday” 2023.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) disclosed that NICS completed a staggering 680,671 background checks in the week leading up to and including Black Friday, a key indicator of firearms sales and related activities.
This year’s Black Friday alone saw 214,913 background checks, setting a new record for the day! Although these checks primarily represent retail firearm sales, they also include background checks for other firearm-related purposes such as concealed carry permit approvals.
The NSSF noted a slight decrease of 4.3% compared to the 2022 total of 711,372 checks for the same week-long period.
NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi commented on the trend.
“The background checks reported by the FBI are in keeping with the trends NSSF has seen throughout the year. Firearm sales remain consistently strong, with over a million per month for more than four years running,” explained Bartozzi, NSSF in a press release.
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He added that these figures underscore a sustained interest in lawful firearm ownership among law-abiding Americans and the ability of firearm manufacturers to meet high-quality standards.
To manage the influx of customers and avoid overwhelming the FBI NICS system, which can lead to longer wait times, NSSF has collaborated with firearm retailers to extend special sales throughout the week leading up to Black Friday. This strategy aims to distribute the high demand more evenly over the week.
In line with annual trends, firearm sales typically spike in the final months of the year, coinciding with hunting seasons and holiday sales.
The detailed breakdown of unadjusted FBI NICS background checks for each day of the week leading up to Black Friday reveals significant variations, with numbers peaking on Black Friday itself:
- Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023: 95,354
- Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023: 52,521
- Monday, Nov. 20, 2023: 79,970
- Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023: 101,199
- Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023: 110,703
- Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023: 26,011
- Friday, Nov. 24, 2023: 214,913
NSSF anticipates releasing its Adjusted NICS figures for November later this week, which will reflect only those background checks related to firearm sales at retail outlets.
This data will provide further insight into the current dynamics of firearm sales in the United States. Stay tuned!
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