More firearms background checks were conducted last month than during any April on record, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). By the end of the month, a total of 2,145,865 NICS checks had been conducted—an increase of more than 400,000 over April 2014, which previously held the top spot.
Firearm-related background checks have been on a record-setting streak since last May, with each month racking up a larger number of checks than during the same month in previous years. This persistent uptick in sales is expected to push 2016 into the top slot for NICS checks, moving 2015 down to number two.
Experts cite continued calls for increased gun control from President Barack Obama and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, coupled with the increasing threat of terrorism both in the United States and abroad, as being the primary drivers behind the growth in sales. It’s believed that if Clinton wins in November, sales will likely spike even further.
