NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, revealed that the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) completed 680,671 background checks related to firearms for the week leading up to and including “Black Friday,” one of the busiest shopping days of the year. That figure is down slightly from 2022’s total of 711,372 for the same time period. The 2023 total is a 4.3 percent decrease from the 2022 figure.
FBI NICS completed 214,913 background checks on “Black Friday” alone. That is the highest figure recorded for a “Black Friday.” The figure approximates firearm sales at retail on that day, although it also includes background checks for other purposes related to firearms, such as approvals for concealed carry permits. NSSF will release its adjusted NICS figures for November later this week, reflecting only those background checks related to the sale of a firearm at retail.
NSSF has worked with firearm retailers to spread out special sales offers to customers throughout the week leading up to “Black Friday” so as not to overwhelm FBI NICS on a single day, which can result in longer than normal wait times.
“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 Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “These figures tell us that there is a continued strong appetite for lawful firearm ownership by law-abiding Americans and that firearm manufacturers across the country continue to deliver the quality firearms our customers have come to expect.”
Annual background check data shows that firearm sales will typically rise during the final months of the year, coinciding with hunting seasons and holiday sales.
Below are the breakout tables for each day of unadjusted FBI NICS background checks.
- 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
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and 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
I have bought my last gun. I went on hospice care this week, so it is time for me to think more about the hereafter.
Ladies and gentlemen I have had a wonderful 80 years of life and have enjoyed owning my first gun at 12 years of age and continuing to now.
Please, as lovers of the Constitution and our precious 2nd Amendment fight on with wisdom and when the fight is over and we win completely Please mention me as a strong supporter of the cause.
Hugh Bleiler
I’m totally shocked that some mentally challenged wacko libtard hasn’t decried “black friday” as racist…
Yet…
It’s good to see these high NICS numbers continuing month after month, year after year. Hopefully these numbers strike fear into the heart of those that would be stupid enough to contemplate taking on a well armed populace. If only 1/10th of 1% of the individuals exercising their 2nd Amendment right to be armed stand their ground against continuing Big Gub’ment overreach, G-D help the “evil doers”…
I’ve been waiting for some indication that the America gun market was reaching saturation, when everyone who wanted a gun had a gun. It seems like the “Summer of Love” and the Democrat tolerated crime wave sweeping the Blue cities keeps persuading fence sitters that the government has no interest in their safety.
I guess I’ll just keep waiting. We’re not there yet.
For Americans, it’s the new “extended” background check. For Tijuana fence jumpers, we’re just glad to have um’!