The latest data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the number of firearm-related checks initiated through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) indicates that September 2016 set a new record, being the highest for any September since the NICS was instituted in 1998. This follows record-high figures throughout 2016: NICS data show that for the first six months of 2016, checks were up an amazing 32 percent over the same period in 2015. Moreover, firearm sales are likely to surge for the rest of 2016 in the months leading up to the holidays – the highest month on record for gun-related checks is December 2015, and the top three days of the highest number of NICS checks include Black Fridays in 2014 and 2015. It’s a safe bet that 2016 will be a banner year for firearm acquisitions.
