The Federal Bureau of Investigation publishes a monthly list of how many firearm background checks are conducted on potential gun buyers as part of its National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Nearly everyone put through this system qualifies. Of the more than 400 million checks that have been done since November 1998, there have only been 2.1 million denials. Those who are denied usually have criminal records.
One of the trends the FBI background check data has shown recently is that gun sales have declined this year after a sharp jump in 2020 and a tally nearly as high in 2021. Gun background checks have long been used as a proxy for trends in gun sales. In the first eleven months of this year, background checks have totaled 28,560,115. The figure will certainly top 30 million by year end. In 2021, the full year total was 38,876,673.
While gun sales slumped beginning in late 2021 and continued to decline in the first few months of 2000, they appear to have begun to rebound. Background checks increased on a month-over-month basis in three of the past four months, including an increase of 277,000 between October and November. (Also see, the 50 most popular guns in the world.)
Many states have mirrored the national trend. To identify the states where gun sales are rebounding, we listed the 22 states where background checks both increased last month (from October to November), as well as in three of the most recent four months, based on FBI figures. Population figures are one-year estimates from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
The decline in gun sales from the peaks in 2020 does not negate the fact that the U.S. has extremely high gun sales. Most estimates are that Americans own about 400 million guns, more than the total U.S. population count of not even 332 million. Americans’ use of guns in acts of violence is also extraordinarily high. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 41,474 gun deaths this year. Of these, 622 were mass shootings.
While people who already own guns have been buying more guns, there is a new group of buyers. According to the New York Times, data on 2020 gun sales from Northeastern University and the Harvard Injury Control Research Center shows that about a fifth of all Americans who bought guns that year were first-time gun owners. The study also revealed that half of those new gun owners were women, a fifth were Black Americans, and a fifth were Hispanic.
Even if gun sales resume their decline, sales are likely to be over 25 million next year, based on current trends. Suffice it to say, regardless of where sales go from here, this does not change the fact that U.S. gun sales remain remarkably high compared to anywhere else in the world. (Here are infamous gunfighters of the American West.)
Click here to see the 22 states where gun sales are rebounding.
22. Pennsylvania
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +5.5% — 16th smallest increase (+5,509)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +13.3% — 25th largest increase (+12,478)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 106,439 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 93,961 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 1,113,769 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 1,287,678 (7th most)
> 2021 population: 12,964,056 (5th largest)
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21. New Hampshire
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +5.5% — 17th smallest increase (+595)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +8.8% — 18th smallest increase (+915)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 11,333 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 10,418 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 120,024 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 138,693 (11th fewest)
> 2021 population: 1,388,992 (10th smallest)
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20. Wisconsin
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +6.8% — 18th smallest increase (+3,827)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +30.0% — 11th largest increase (+13,783)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 59,699 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 45,916 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 579,536 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 719,957 (15th most)
> 2021 population: 5,895,908 (20th largest)
19. Idaho
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +6.9% — 19th smallest increase (+1,315)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +11.0% — 21st smallest increase (+2,030)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 20,403 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 18,373 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 213,617 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 248,986 (21st fewest)
> 2021 population: 1,900,923 (13th smallest)
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18. Massachusetts
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +8.4% — 21st smallest increase (+1,563)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +6.2% — 15th smallest increase (+1,182)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 20,236 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 19,054 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 209,082 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 240,538 (18th fewest)
> 2021 population: 6,984,723 (15th largest)
17. Delaware
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +8.9% — 22nd smallest increase (+336)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +13.3% — 25th smallest increase (+483)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 4,122 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 3,639 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 53,358 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 62,907 (4th fewest)
> 2021 population: 1,003,384 (6th smallest)
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16. Rhode Island
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +10.4% — 25th smallest increase (+214)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +17.0% — 23rd largest increase (+329)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 2,269 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 1,940 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 25,478 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 35,144 (2nd fewest)
> 2021 population: 1,095,610 (7th smallest)
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15. Maryland
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +10.9% — 24th largest increase (+3,942)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +85.4% — 2nd largest increase (+18,462)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 40,087 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 21,625 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 282,613 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 246,090 (20th fewest)
> 2021 population: 6,165,129 (19th largest)
14. Georgia
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +12.0% — 21st largest increase (+5,632)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +26.4% — 15th largest increase (+11,013)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 52,709 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 41,696 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 533,964 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 738,311 (14th most)
> 2021 population: 10,799,566 (8th largest)
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13. Illinois
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +12.5% — 20th largest increase (+50,423)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +38.6% — 7th largest increase (+126,169)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 453,252 (the most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 327,083 (the most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 3,998,754 (the most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 8,036,858 (the most)
> 2021 population: 12,671,469 (6th largest)
12. Virginia
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +13.4% — 19th largest increase (+6,117)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +17.8% — 20th largest increase (+7,810)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 51,769 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 43,959 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 506,213 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 592,584 (18th most)
> 2021 population: 8,642,274 (12th largest)
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11. North Carolina
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +13.5% — 18th largest increase (+6,181)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +17.0% — 22nd largest increase (+7,567)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 52,080 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 44,513 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 552,472 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 716,542 (16th most)
> 2021 population: 10,551,162 (9th largest)
10. Michigan
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +14.0% — 16th largest increase (+8,696)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +21.6% — 18th largest increase (+12,593)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 70,852 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 58,259 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 718,575 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 893,501 (9th most)
> 2021 population: 10,050,811 (10th largest)
9. South Carolina
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +14.1% — 15th largest increase (+4,557)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +23.7% — 17th largest increase (+7,070)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 36,936 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 29,866 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 376,413 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 443,095 (22nd most)
> 2021 population: 5,190,705 (23rd largest)
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8. Tennessee
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +14.3% — 14th largest increase (+9,195)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +15.9% — 24th largest increase (+10,113)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 73,566 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 63,453 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 750,844 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 871,590 (11th most)
> 2021 population: 6,975,218 (16th largest)
7. Wyoming
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +17.7% — 12th largest increase (+931)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +18.7% — 19th largest increase (+979)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 6,202 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 5,223 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 63,193 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 76,182 (6th fewest)
> 2021 population: 578,803 (the smallest)
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6. Missouri
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +19.3% — 10th largest increase (+8,082)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +26.9% — 14th largest increase (+10,601)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 50,043 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 39,442 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 472,720 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 572,875 (20th most)
> 2021 population: 6,168,187 (18th largest)
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5. Nebraska
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +23.8% — 9th largest increase (+1,371)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +47.2% — 5th largest increase (+2,291)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 7,140 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 4,849 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 67,206 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 82,564 (7th fewest)
> 2021 population: 1,963,692 (14th smallest)
4. Arkansas
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +23.8% — 8th largest increase (+4,641)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +47.4% — 4th largest increase (+7,765)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 24,160 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 16,395 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 210,823 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 259,459 (23rd fewest)
> 2021 population: 3,025,891 (18th smallest)
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3. West Virginia
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +23.8% — 7th largest increase (+3,804)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +43.8% — 6th largest increase (+6,013)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 19,756 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 13,743 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 170,716 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 201,157 (15th fewest)
> 2021 population: 1,782,959 (12th smallest)
2. Kansas
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +31.7% — 3rd largest increase (+4,484)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +31.7% — 10th largest increase (+4,476)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 18,610 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 14,134 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 170,594 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 207,939 (16th fewest)
> 2021 population: 2,934,582 (16th smallest)
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1. Oregon
> 1-month change in background checks Oct 2022-Nov 2022: +162.9% — the largest increase (+56,798)
> 4-month change in background checks July 2022-Nov 2022: +199.4% — the largest increase (+61,047)
> Firearm background checks, Nov 2022: 91,661 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks, July 2022: 30,614 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2022: 419,405 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Nov 2021: 414,935 (24th most)
> 2021 population: 4,246,155 (24th smallest)
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