May 2026 NICS Checks Show Gun Demand Rising as NFA Numbers Surge

The May 2026 National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) numbers are in. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) adjusted background check numbers show expanding firearm sales, even as the total number of background checks conducted through NICS continues to drop. In May, the drop was almost 11 percent from May 2025. From NSSF:The May 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,105,758 is an increase of 3.2 percent compared to the May 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,071,685. For comparison, the unadjusted May 2026 FBI NICS figure of 1,780,230 reflects a 10.9 percent decrease from...