Gun background checks drop by 10 percent in January
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of federal background checks for firearm sales declined last month following a surge in gun sales toward the end of the year that's left many retailers out of stock as Washington considered new gun control measures.
An Associated Press analysis of new FBI data published early Tuesday shows the National Instant Criminal Background Check system processed more than 2.78 million checks in December. That was a 12-month peak following an upward trend through last fall. The number fell to 2.48 million in January, still greater than any other month last year.
Firearms sales exploded around the country in the wake of the deadly December shooting spree in Newton, Conn., that left 27 dead, mostly children. The rush to buy guns has left many retailers out of stock.
"You can't do a background check if a guy doesn't have a gun to buy," said Mike Fotia, manager at Duke's Sport Shop in New Castle, Pa. "There's nothing to buy."
Fotia said manufacturers and wholesalers can't fill orders right now because demand is so high.
The number of background checks does not represent the number of firearms purchased, but gun manufacturers use these statistics to measure the health of the gun industry in the U.S.
The 10 percent drop between December and January comes amid a fierce national debate on gun control after the horrific school shooting in Newtown. The number of background checks dropped 26 percent during the same time period a year earlier. Sales typically decrease in January after the holiday shopping rush is over.
Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi saw the largest declines in background checks from December to January, by about one-third.
An Associated Press analysis of new FBI data published early Tuesday shows the National Instant Criminal Background Check system processed more than 2.78 million checks in December. That was a 12-month peak following an upward trend through last fall. The number fell to 2.48 million in January, still greater than any other month last year.
Firearms sales exploded around the country in the wake of the deadly December shooting spree in Newton, Conn., that left 27 dead, mostly children. The rush to buy guns has left many retailers out of stock.
"You can't do a background check if a guy doesn't have a gun to buy," said Mike Fotia, manager at Duke's Sport Shop in New Castle, Pa. "There's nothing to buy."
Fotia said manufacturers and wholesalers can't fill orders right now because demand is so high.
The number of background checks does not represent the number of firearms purchased, but gun manufacturers use these statistics to measure the health of the gun industry in the U.S.
The 10 percent drop between December and January comes amid a fierce national debate on gun control after the horrific school shooting in Newtown. The number of background checks dropped 26 percent during the same time period a year earlier. Sales typically decrease in January after the holiday shopping rush is over.
Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi saw the largest declines in background checks from December to January, by about one-third.
This photo pretty much say's it all.....
http://sadhillnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/obama-gun-salesman-of-the-year-firearms-salesman-of-the-century-sad-hill-news-1.jpg
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That's because there are none to buy...
Finally the feds figured out a way to stimulate the economy without tax dollars!
Has gun production been ramped up? Is this industry taking advantage of this boom by hiring and expanding? If not, I don't understand why. Americans need jobs even more than they need guns.
 @jowsuf Some are. But expansion costs money, and some are fearing that laws WILL get passed that limit what Americans can buy. Spending a million dollars expanding production capabilities to make something that might e illegal in six months makes no sense. Also some think it's a temporary surge, and would rather have a backlog of orders NOW than no orders next year. Some manufacturers are adding shifts (higher utilization rate of existing plant and facilities), some are expanding modestly, some are not changing anything.
If the FedGov REALLY wanted to spur the economy and domestic manufacturing, all they'd have to do is deregulate suppressors (or make them be treated like an ordinary gun, needing a 4473). There is a HUGE demand for these basic safety devices, and it would increase the need for a LOT of machinists for threading barrels and doing related work, as well as metal workers to make them. I'd put demand at 50 million plus, if the price were bade reasonable by removing the $200 tax stamp and related paperwork.
 @RN1Â
"But expansion costs money, and some are fearing that laws WILL get passed that limit what Americans can buy"
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No, they are just smart enough to know that your paranoid buying frenzy is a short term trend and they do not need to make long term manufacturing changes to deal with that.
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They are smart enough to profit from you not being smart enough.
 @T H I S People said the same thing in December 2008. It's not slowed much since. A lot of the newer buyers are actually new gun owners, not just folks who already have a gun or three and want another one. at least half the men and women I see at the counter are including some variation of the phrases "I'm new to all this, and..." and "which class should I start with?"
Sorry if you guys have to wait to get your toys. Oh well...
 @lakeview I'm sure that the ladies would be very understanding if you told them they had to wait for their abortion, because, well, there are just not enough providers to make them all happen promptly, so they'd be fine waiting for a few weeks, or months, maybe a year or more, to exercise their rights.
 @RN1 Man, when it comes to false equivelencies, you are a grand master champion.Â
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First you are comparing a medical procedure to the paniced purchase of a toy.
Then you compare the lack of ability of medical procedures due to the actions of the party of "small government" to the lack of availability of toys due to the panicked buying frenzy of some paranoids.Â
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Just when it seems you can not not lower your credibility any more, you somehow manage to suck a little more out of the pool.
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 @dg54321  @T H I S Arguably, the 9th Amendment covers abortion. The thing is, supporters almost never argue from that angle, building a logical case for it from the same basic assumptions implicit in the other rights. And then they don't understand why pro-gun folks view infringements on the 2nd the same way they view limitations on their favored right. They want some rights to be "more equal" than others, and that isn't the way the founders intended them.
 @RN1  @T H I S I think we need to stop perpetuating the falsehood that abortion is an enumerated right. I didn't see it anywhere in the Constitution or Bill of Rights where it says you have the right to kill your unborn child. The right to keep and bear arms, on the other hand........
 @T H I S You are right, they are not the same. Gun ownership is an explicitly enumerated and long-recognized right. Abortion rights are found in some modern interpretation of an emanation of a penumbra surrounding the BoR somewhere. One is about being left alone, the other is often about getting someone else to pay for a situation you were (ir)responsible to get into.
 @RN1 Actually the ladies are already waiting thanks to Republican laws passed in states after 2010. You are spot on correct.Â
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Mississippi has one remaining abortion clinic in the entire state, and it is being shut down due to Republican law passed.
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South Dakota has one remaining abortion clinic, and the Republicans there are in the process of shutting it down as well. I think Kansas and N. Dakota each have 1 clinic left as well, and Republicans have the template on exactly how to shut those down as well by following exactly what Mississippi has done.Â
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 @T H I S  @RN1 I think the main thing impacting availability is new people buying guns. I've seen a lot of new people at the range in recent months, more than I've ever seen. Frankly, it makes me stay away from the range due to the possible safety impact of so many inexperienced people trying out there new gun for the first time.
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 @RN1 "Manufacturing is NOT delayed, in fact it's UP, it's just that demand is WAY up because of ..... "
...paranoid gun nuts Â
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You guys did this to yourselves in 2009. It was epic lulz.  You have no idea that all you are doing is make the ceo's of a few companies extra rich with your paranoia.
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 @lakeview Manufacturing is NOT delayed, in fact it's UP, it's just that demand is WAY up because of *threatened government action.* But I don't expect a passive-aggressive leftie like you to really understand the difference.
 @RN1 I was talking about waiting due to manufacturing delays. Have a nice day.Â
 @lakeview But you are OK with that situation, because you don't think a right delayed is a right denied. It's just a *shrug*, and "Oh, well..."
My Dad had to wait 8 months to get his Kimber. They're that far back ordered.
Most every gun shop I have been into lately is almost out of guns. No wonder background checks dropped note they are still way above normal. Every dealer will tell you the same thing they can hardly find anything to sell all the distributors are out of almost everything. Backorders are up to a year on some guns. Over a year on high cap mags.
 @DB Cooper What is a high cap mag? 30 rounds is standard.
Wish I could buy a few more guns but they either aren't on the selves or have doubled in price.  Heck my gun dealer can't even submit and order for me even after telling them I will pay upfront in full and am willing to wait months if needed.
I'll bet that as soon as the firearm manufactures have more product to ship out to stores, there will be another jump in NICS background checks. The manufacturers were caught off guard by the jump in sales and it does take time to restore stock levels. Same with ammunition; firearms owners bought a lot of ammo at the same time and the ammo supply has dwindled because of that.
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I did a background check and got my permit. Haven't bought a weapon, though. Having a hard time making that last step. I suspect there are lots of people like me.
 @Hagar Pulling the trigger is not for the faint of heart. First you need to get by the bad gun you are shooting at. If successful here you must have law enforcement agree that it was justified. Then you must win the wrongful death suit brought by relatives. This occurs frequently and is very expensive to defend yourself. Trying to do the "right thing" can cost you everything you own and land you in jail for a good long time. Carrying in public is an awesome responsibility.
 @Hagar Something that I cannot emphasize enough to new gun buyers: try things out at the range first, unless you are OK with buying several until you find "the one." I have taken a number of new shooters to the range over the years, and every single time we were both surprised at what they did the best with, and what they felt most comfortable with. Things that looked good on paper might just "feel wrong," or whatever. Had one middle-aged, middle-sized, house-wifey-looking gal find that the Glock 10mm and a heavy revolver shooting full power .357 were by far her favorites. Go to a range with a knowledgeable shooter (or take a class that lets you do this) and try out a bunch of different guns in different cartridges- you may find that a 9mm is great in everything, or only in a particular gun, or you might find that a particular model is great in every cartridge feels fun to shoot, or you might find there is only particular gun-cartridge combo that just seems to suit you, for no obvious reason. It's has to just feel *right*, so that you can practice a lot and shoot well, while having fun.
 @Hagar Be sure and do a little research about when it is lawful to pull your weapon. So many people don't bother to educate themselves on the state laws. Still a lot of places they won't let you take your gun and its an immediate felony if you make a mistake.
 @Hagar Go to Front Sight Co. web site,
http://www.frontsight.com/landingpg-1.asp?src=gaw&kw=front%20sight&gclid=CPrXw_zXn7UCFQhyQgod3CQAGg
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This will give you a lot of good information in helping you decide which gun is best suited to you and they offer some of the best training courses in Washington.
Background checks have declined merely because there's very little left to purchase! Â Everything's already sold out.Â