The firearm market cooled slightly in December 2025, but demand for lawful gun ownership remains historically strong, according to newly released National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) data.
The NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure for December 2025 came in at 1,587,049, a 3.4 percent decrease compared to December 2024’s adjusted total of 1,642,270.
For comparison, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported an unadjusted December 2025 NICS figure of 2,220,852, reflecting a 16.1 percent decline from the unadjusted 2,647,933 checks recorded in December 2024.
Top States for Background Checks
Despite the year-over-year dip, several states continued to dominate firearm background check activity:
Top 5 States – NSSF-Adjusted NICS Checks
- Texas
- Florida
- California
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
Top 5 States – FBI Handgun Checks
- Texas
- Florida
- California
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
And Top 5 States – FBI Long Gun Checks
- Texas
- Pennsylvania
- Florida
- Ohio
- Virginia
Q4 and Annual Totals Show Modest Declines
Looking beyond December alone, the broader trend shows a modest easing from record highs:
- Q4 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS: 4,294,591
- Down 3.7 percent from Q4 2024 (4,459,900)
- Full-Year 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS: 14,612,314
- Down 4.1 percent from 2024 (15,239,011)
NSSF notes that adjusted figures remove permit checks and rechecks in states that allow qualified concealed carry permit holders to bypass a separate NICS check at the point of sale.
Currently, 28 states have at least one such qualifying permit, meaning actual firearm transfers in those states may exceed reported NICS activity.
What the Numbers Really Mean
While NICS checks are not a direct measure of firearm sales, they remain one of the most reliable indicators of consumer demand in the firearms market. A single check can involve multiple firearms, and some legal transfers occur without a NICS check due to state permitting systems.
Still, the scale of activity remains significant.
“The fact that nearly 1.6 million background checks were conducted in December for the retail sale of a firearm demonstrates that Second Amendment rights are critically important to Americans,” said Mark Oliva, NSSF Managing Director of Public Affairs.
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“There were over 14.6 million background checks for the sale of firearms through the entire year. This is an undeniable fact that lawful gun ownership is a valued and treasured right exercised by tens of millions of Americans daily,” Oliva added.
He also pushed back on political narratives targeting lawful gun owners, noting that ownership continues to grow even as crime rates fall.
“These Americans are, quite literally, investing in their personal safety and freedom,” Oliva said.
Bottom Line
December’s numbers show a market normalizing from historic highs, not collapsing. Millions of Americans continue to lawfully exercise their 2A rights, even as political pressure and regulatory scrutiny increase.
The data suggest one clear takeaway: demand for firearms remains durable, national, and deeply rooted in personal security, not fleeting trends.
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