Newly released FBI figures show that last month saw the most gun-related FBI background checks of any August on record.
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, conducted 1,853,815 checks in August. That’s over 100,000 more checks than the previous record set last August. It is also the 16th month in a row to set a record.
The number of NICS checks considered one of the most reliable gauges for how many guns were sold. Nearly every sale made through a licensed gun dealer, whether it’s made inside a store, online, or at a gun show, is required to complete a NICS check.
However, the measure is not a one-to-one recording of gun sales for a number of reasons. Most states do not require NICS checks on sales between non-dealers. Some states also use NICS checks in their concealed carry application process where no gun is sold.
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