Black Friday Registers Highest Single-Day NICS Checks

by
posted on December 2, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
si-news-2015-5-28-15.jpg (34)

Despite a general drop-off in new gun purchases earlier this year and an overall decline in 2015 from an unprecedented seven-year boom, firearms transactions experienced a record spike the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally one of the biggest days in retail sales in the U.S. 

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reports it processed 185,345 transactions on Nov. 27, 2015, setting a Black Friday—and single-dayrecord of more than 185,000, nearly three checks per second. 

The total number of 185,345 transactions exceeds the previous record day for NICS checks of December 21, 2012, when more than 177,000 background checks took place. 

Historically, the agency brings in 100 extra employees to deal with the increase during the heavy buying periods. Nearly 600 FBI and contract call center employees work up to 17-hours in an attempt to complete the background reviews in three business days, as required by law. 

Typically, the NICS is available daily from 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. EST. To better accommodate the long-standing history of record-breaking volume on Black Friday, the FBI started the NICS in-service at 4:30 a.m. EST for NICS E-Check Users and for state Point of Contact (POC) programs. The NICS Contracted Call Center opened, as normal, at 8 a.m. EST. 

The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that during the entire Nov. 26-29 2015 four-day Black Friday period, 368,774 checks were completed, a 9.9 percent increase over the 335,555 checks conducted over the corresponding 2014 4-day period. 

While a NICS check does not precisely indicate the sale of individual firearms, it correlates closely and is considered by the industry as an accurate indicator of sales and demand. Based on varying state laws and purchase scenarios, a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale.

Latest

Steelhead Outdoors' Limited-Edition Founders Pistol Lock Box
Steelhead Outdoors' Limited-Edition Founders Pistol Lock Box

First Look: Steelhead Outdoors' Limited-Edition Founders Pistol Lock Box

Finished with in patriotic royale blue and crimson red colors.

Mechanical Advantage

There are two things which cause you to miss. Here's how to correct both of them.

First Look: Mission First Tactical 5L Achro Sling Bag

Keep your gear on you without standing out from the crowd.

First Look: Streamlight SL-SideSaddle Light

Add a little light to your hat or helmet.

NRA Foundation Grant Program Fueling the Future

In 2024 alone, The NRA Foundation awarded $8.6 million in state fund grants.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Illustrated delivered to your inbox.