WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, released the final figures for NSSF-adjusted FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) verifications for December 2024 and the 2024-year-end totals. December’s totals topped 1.6 million background checks for the sale of a firearm at retail. That brought the 2024 annual total to over 15.2 million background checks for the sale of firearms at retail.
“We are proud that NSSF member companies continue to serve the American public that chooses to exercise their Second Amendment rights by the millions each month,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. “These background check figures show strong sales and that today’s firearm manufacturers are delivering high-quality products. We are proud that our member companies continue to exceed the high standards that law-abiding Americans demand when it comes to the products that allow them to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
The December 2024 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,642,270 is a decrease of 7.5 percent compared to December 2023 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,775,834. For comparison, the unadjusted December 2024 FBI NICS figure of 2,647,933 reflects a 1.6 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,690,231 in December 2023. December 2024 marks the 65th month in a row that has exceeded 1 million adjusted background checks in a single month.
The fourth quarter 2024 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 4,459,900 reflects a decrease of 5.9 percent compared to the 4,742,029 figure for fourth quarter 2023.
The annual 2024 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 15,239,011 reflects a decrease of 3.5 percent compared to the 15,848,055 figure for annual 2023.
Please note: 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 and NSSF does not adjust for these transfers.
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. NSSF started subtracting permit rechecks in February 2016.
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.
It should be noted that 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. Based on varying state laws, local market conditions and purchase scenarios, a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale.
About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.
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