October Gun Background Checks Rose 7.9 Percent, Industry Group Reports

Bearing Arms reports that background checks tied to gun sales rose sharply in October ahead of Election Day, citing figures from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and asks whether the increase will last.

Key points

• The numbers: NSSF's adjusted NICS count, used as a stand-in for gun sales, reached 1,402,422 checks in October, up 7.9 percent from October 2025.
• Industry view: NSSF's Mark Oliva called the rise significant and said Americans reject gun control each time they legally buy a firearm.
• States to watch: Writer Cam Edwards expects states facing full Democratic control to lead any further rise. He notes Pennsylvania ranked second for long gun checks, third for handguns and fourth overall in October, and Wisconsin was in the top five for long guns.
• Precedent: Edwards points to Virginia, where checks climbed after Democrats won the governorship and both legislative chambers in late 2025, ahead of a ban on so-called assault firearms that took effect July 1.
• Another forecast: Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, predicted a nationwide buying surge "not seen since 2020."

Quick take

Edwards says it is unclear what drove October's increase, though sales often rise when buyers worry about new gun laws. He thinks November's figures, due in early December, could be even stronger, while arguing that buying ahead of a ban is no substitute for working to stop one.

Read the full story at Bearing Arms.