The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) processed 613,380 background checks related to firearms during the week leading up to and including Black Friday. This period is known for high shopping activity, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
This year’s total represents a decrease from 2023, which saw 680,671 checks in the same timeframe—a reduction of 9.8%. On Black Friday alone, NICS completed 169,906 background checks. While these numbers approximate retail firearm sales on that day, they also include checks for other firearm-related purposes such as concealed-carry permits. The NSSF plans to release adjusted figures for November soon, focusing solely on retail firearm sales.
To prevent overwhelming the system and causing delays, NSSF has collaborated with retailers to spread special offers throughout the week rather than concentrating them on Black Friday.
“The background checks reported by the FBI are in keeping with the trends NSSF has seen throughout the year,” stated Joe Bartozzi, NSSF president and CEO. “While the overall trends are still coming off the peaks experienced in recent years, firearm sales remain consistently strong, with over a million per month for more than five years running.” He added that these figures indicate a continued demand for lawful firearm ownership among Americans and that manufacturers continue to meet customer expectations.
Background check data typically shows an increase in firearm sales during the year’s final months due to hunting seasons and holiday promotions.
The unadjusted daily FBI NICS background check figures were:
– Saturday, Nov. 23: 86,224
– Sunday, Nov. 24: 49,535
– Monday, Nov. 25: 89,662
– Tuesday, Nov. 26: 98,093
– Wednesday, Nov. 27: 104,896
– Thursday, Nov. 28: 15,074
– Friday, Nov. 29: 169,906
