Black Friday Sees Fourth Highest One-Day Total for Firearms Background Checks

by
posted on December 3, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dsc_1918.jpg
courtesy of the NSSF

Black Friday saw over 186,000 background checks conducted for the purchase of firearms, the fourth highest single-day total in history. The entire holiday weekend saw more than 417,000 checks, according to new data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

Though Black Friday 2019 saw more checks conducted on that day alone, 2020’s holiday weekend exceeded the prior year’s by roughly 15,000 background checks processed through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for the purchases of firearms. Following the holiday weekend, Cyber Monday had an additional 124,000 checks. 

November background checks are in line with what we’ve seen all year long. Americans continue to purchase firearms at record pace for a variety of reasons, including concerns for personal safety and onerous gun-control plans possibly coming from a presumed Biden-Harris administration.

Adding to these already impressive figures, over 1.3 million checks were conducted throughout the month of November. This brings the annual total up to over 19.1 million, further shattering the previous 15.7-million record set in 2016—all with one month remaining in the year. (To calculate these figures, the NSSF factors out background checks unlikely to be used in the purchase of a firearm to better reflect the number of gun sales.)

Month after month, Americans are continuing to exercise their Second Amendment rights in absolutely astonishing numbers. The potential of an incoming Biden-Harris administration is a looming threat to our right to keep and bear arms. The laundry list of anti-Second Amendment proposals Biden has given us has undoubtedly contributed to the increase in gun sales and ownership.

With one month to go, 2020’s record number of background checks will continue to grow and, at this rate, is likely to eclipse 20 million on the year!

Latest

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Jason Smith
House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Jason Smith

The Greatest Second Amendment Victory in a Century

On July 4, 2025, Americans celebrated not only our nation’s independence, but also the restoration of our constitutional Second Amendment rights becoming unconstrained by burdensome and arbitrary fees.

Opening Salvo | More Evidence That Gun-Control Groups are Freaking Out

With the Trump administration’s law-and-order push showing America’s crime problem is clearly not the fault of lawfully armed citizens, gun-control groups are freaking out.

John Rich has a Song for Armed Citizens

John Rich's latest song is "The Righteous Hunter." It is a moving tune about standing up to stop those with evil intentions. It is a song for lawfully armed citizens.

This Department of Education Grant Could Change Things

The University of Wyoming’s Firearms Research Center has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education to develop a nationwide program on the origins, meaning and implications of the Second Amendment.

From the Editor | Charlie Kirk Lived for Freedom

“Give me liberty, or give me death,” are the immortal words of Patrick Henry spoken on March 23, 1775, to the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond, Va. His impassioned words were a call to arms against British tyranny.  

Ninth Circuit to Revisit Background Checks on Ammo Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has granted rehearing en banc in Rhode v. Bonta—a case backed by the National Rifle Association and California Rifle and Pistol Association. 

Interests



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.