Gun sales in America, as estimated by background checks, jumped at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained high until well into 2021. Several days and weeks in that period set all-time records. Total sales were 28,369,750 in 2019 and 39,659315 in 2020. These figures come from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System — firearm background checks are often used as a proxy for gun sales.
Recently, however, gun sales have collapsed, both month to month and year over year. The pace of the decline accelerated in June. June gun sales last year totaled 3,054,726 nationwide. Last month, nationwide gun sales totaled 2,570,608. Compared to the first six months of 2021, there were 6.4 million fewer background checks for the purchase of a firearm, a 28.7% drop. (This is the country where people own the most guns.)
Why have gun sales slowed? It was more evident why they rose for months. The New York Times reported in May 2021, “While gun sales have been climbing for decades — they often spike in election years and after high-profile crimes — Americans have been on an unusual, prolonged buying spree fueled by the coronavirus pandemic, the protests last summer and the fears they both stoked.”
During the period of the increase, the number of first-time gun buyers jumped. Sales also rose among women and minorities. First-time buyers have accounted for about 20% of new gun sales nationwide in 2020.
Even when gun sales are falling, there are periods when they spike, most notably when there are mass shootings – as there have been with horrible frequency this year. The theory about why mass shootings may cause a spike in gun sales is the often ensuing rhetoric about curbing gun sales through increased regulations to stop these incidents. Many politicians have made sure this has not happened. (These are the deadliest mass shootings since the Columbine massacre.)
Still, gun sales have declined during the first six months of the year in 47 states. To determine the states with the greatest collapse in gun sales, 24/7 Wall St. ranked states by the change in background checks in January-June 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, using data from the FBI’s NICS. Population figures came from the Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey and are five-year averages. Gun sales have dropped between 8.4% to nearly 66%.
Click here to see the states where American gun sales collapsed
47. Delaware
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -8.4% (-3,162)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 34,602 (4th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 37,764 (4th least)
> Population: 967,679 (6th smallest)
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46. Minnesota
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -8.6% (-43,368)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 458,568 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 501,936 (11th most)
> Population: 5,600,166 (22nd largest)
45. New York
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -9.6% (-23,444)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 221,579 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 245,023 (23rd most)
> Population: 19,514,849 (4th largest)
44. California
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -10.1% (-77,873)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 691,718 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 769,591 (6th most)
> Population: 39,346,023 (the largest)
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43. Arizona
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -15.2% (-49,215)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 273,584 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 322,799 (21st most)
> Population: 7,174,064 (14th largest)
42. North Dakota
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -15.8% (-6,689)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 35,732 (6th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 42,421 (5th least)
> Population: 760,394 (4th smallest)
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41. Tennessee
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -16.2% (-81,173)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 420,199 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 501,372 (12th most)
> Population: 6,772,268 (16th largest)
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40. Montana
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -17.1% (-14,535)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 70,552 (12th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 85,087 (12th least)
> Population: 1,061,705 (8th smallest)
39. Iowa
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -17.1% (-26,395)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 127,848 (23rd least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 154,243 (21st least)
> Population: 3,150,011 (20th smallest)
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38. Maine
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -17.4% (-11,329)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 53,787 (10th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 65,116 (10th least)
> Population: 1,340,825 (9th smallest)
37. Oregon
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -17.7% (-43,192)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 201,022 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 244,214 (24th most)
> Population: 4,176,346 (24th smallest)
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36. Alaska
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -18.0% (-8,734)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 39,759 (8th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 48,493 (7th least)
> Population: 736,990 (3rd smallest)
35. New Mexico
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -18.4% (-19,499)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 86,322 (15th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 105,821 (14th least)
> Population: 2,097,021 (15th smallest)
34. Oklahoma
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -18.5% (-40,879)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 180,342 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 221,221 (25th most)
> Population: 3,949,342 (23rd smallest)
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33. Pennsylvania
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -18.9% (-144,676)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 619,530 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 764,206 (7th most)
> Population: 12,794,885 (5th largest)
32. Idaho
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -19.3% (-28,520)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 119,491 (21st least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 148,011 (19th least)
> Population: 1,754,367 (12th smallest)
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31. Texas
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -19.4% (-206,511)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 855,905 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 1,062,416 (4th most)
> Population: 28,635,442 (2nd largest)
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30. Mississippi
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -19.6% (-32,880)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 134,642 (24th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 167,522 (24th least)
> Population: 2,981,835 (17th smallest)
29. Louisiana
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -19.6% (-41,579)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 170,127 (25th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 211,706 (25th least)
> Population: 4,664,616 (25th largest)
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28. Florida
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -19.8% (-184,775)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 748,659 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 933,434 (5th most)
> Population: 21,216,924 (3rd largest)
27. Vermont
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -19.8% (-5,481)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 22,197 (3rd least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 27,678 (3rd least)
> Population: 624,340 (2nd smallest)
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26. Utah
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -19.9% (-126,195)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 506,367 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 632,562 (8th most)
> Population: 3,151,239 (21st smallest)
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25. Wisconsin
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -20.0% (-79,092)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 316,376 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 395,468 (16th most)
> Population: 5,806,975 (20th largest)
24. Massachusetts
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -20.4% (-29,159)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 113,472 (19th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 142,631 (18th least)
> Population: 6,873,003 (15th largest)
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23. Virginia
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -20.7% (-73,009)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 278,978 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 351,987 (18th most)
> Population: 8,509,358 (12th largest)
22. South Carolina
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -20.9% (-55,531)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 209,843 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 265,374 (22nd most)
> Population: 5,091,517 (23rd largest)
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21. New Hampshire
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -21.7% (-18,273)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 66,013 (11th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 84,286 (11th least)
> Population: 1,355,244 (10th smallest)
20. Kansas
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -21.9% (-26,646)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 95,135 (17th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 121,781 (16th least)
> Population: 2,912,619 (16th smallest)
19. Colorado
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -21.9% (-74,707)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 266,553 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 341,260 (20th most)
> Population: 5,684,926 (21st largest)
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18. Wyoming
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -22.2% (-10,032)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 35,169 (5th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 45,201 (6th least)
> Population: 581,348 (the smallest)
17. West Virginia
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -22.6% (-27,065)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 92,541 (16th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 119,606 (15th least)
> Population: 1,807,426 (13th smallest)
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16. Nebraska
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -22.6% (-11,209)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 38,309 (7th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 49,518 (8th least)
> Population: 1,923,826 (14th smallest)
15. Connecticut
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -22.9% (-37,473)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 126,268 (22nd least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 163,741 (23rd least)
> Population: 3,570,549 (22nd smallest)
14. Nevada
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -23.0% (-24,174)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 80,710 (13th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 104,884 (13th least)
> Population: 3,030,281 (19th smallest)
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13. Missouri
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -24.4% (-84,481)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 261,399 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 345,880 (19th most)
> Population: 6,124,160 (18th largest)
12. Maryland
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -24.5% (-37,052)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 114,372 (20th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 151,424 (20th least)
> Population: 6,037,624 (19th largest)
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11. Michigan
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -26.1% (-142,515)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 403,011 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 545,526 (9th most)
> Population: 9,973,907 (10th largest)
10. South Dakota
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -26.7% (-15,201)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 41,772 (9th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 56,973 (9th least)
> Population: 879,336 (5th smallest)
9. Arkansas
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -27.1% (-42,210)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 113,314 (18th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 155,524 (22nd least)
> Population: 3,011,873 (18th smallest)
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8. Alabama
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -27.4% (-141,143)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 374,096 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 515,239 (10th most)
> Population: 4,893,186 (24th largest)
7. North Carolina
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -28.1% (-123,815)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 316,997 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 440,812 (15th most)
> Population: 10,386,227 (9th largest)
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6. Ohio
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -28.7% (-135,373)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 336,981 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 472,354 (13th most)
> Population: 11,675,275 (7th largest)
5. Rhode Island
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -33.7% (-7,696)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 15,157 (2nd least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 22,853 (2nd least)
> Population: 1,057,798 (7th smallest)
4. Georgia
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -34.6% (-159,687)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 302,270 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 461,957 (14th most)
> Population: 10,516,579 (8th largest)
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3. New Jersey
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -40.1% (-54,382)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 81,209 (14th least)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 135,591 (17th least)
> Population: 8,885,418 (11th largest)
2. Indiana
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -45.0% (-512,347)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 625,360 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 1,137,707 (3rd most)
> Population: 6,696,893 (17th largest)
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1. Illinois
> Change in sales, Jan-Jun 2021 to 2022: -65.9% (-3,986,304)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2022: 2,064,400 (2nd most)
> Firearm background checks, first half 2021: 6,050,704 (the most)
> Population: 12,716,164 (6th largest)
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