States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011
Stacker consulted data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to examine which states have seen the most significant increase in firearm-related background checks between 2011 and 2021:
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Lutsenko_Oleksandr // Shutterstock
According to the number of firearm-related background checks performed by the FBI, Black Friday in 2022 was the third-highest day for gun sales ever, surpassing the amounts sold on the same dates in 2020 and 2021. (Note: The data does not directly represent a one-to-one correlation between a firearm background check and sale, as it does not include private gun purchases or instances where a carry permit is as an alternative to the background check.)
In some states, gun control laws are in judicial limbo. In Oregon, voters passed Measure 114 in the November elections. The proposal aimed to end the so-called "Charleston loophole," which allowed buyers to obtain a firearm from a dealer before the background check was complete. It also added the requirement to pass a training course before purchasing a weapon.
In Washington D.C., where firearm-related background checks have skyrocketed in the last decade, permits are not required to buy rifles, shotguns, or handguns. However, background checks are mandatory for all private sales, and gun buyers must register every firearm they acquire.
Illinois, which has one of the most stringent gun regulations in America, leads the nation in background checks, which suggests the state's laws are functioning as designed.
With each state in the country addressing the issue of gun ownership and registration in different ways, Stacker consulted data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to examine which states have seen the most significant increase in firearm-related background checks between 2011 and 2021. The figures taken into consideration are criminal record requests initiated by an officially licensed Federal Firearms Licensee or criminal justice/law enforcement agency before issuing a purchase or transfer permit.
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Lutsenko_Oleksandr // ShutterstockAccording to the number of firearm-related background checks performed by the FBI, Black Friday in 2022 was the third-highest day for gun sales ever, surpassing the amounts sold on the same dates in 2020 and 2021. (Note: The data does not directly represent a one-to-one correlation between a firearm background check and sale, as it does not include private gun purchases or instances where a carry permit is as an alternative to the background check.)
In some states, gun control laws are in judicial limbo. In Oregon, voters passed Measure 114 in the November elections. The proposal aimed to end the so-called "Charleston loophole," which allowed buyers to obtain a firearm from a dealer before the background check was complete. It also added the requirement to pass a training course before purchasing a weapon.
In Washington D.C., where firearm-related background checks have skyrocketed in the last decade, permits are not required to buy rifles, shotguns, or handguns. However, background checks are mandatory for all private sales, and gun buyers must register every firearm they acquire.
Illinois, which has one of the most stringent gun regulations in America, leads the nation in background checks, which suggests the state's laws are functioning as designed.
With each state in the country addressing the issue of gun ownership and registration in different ways, Stacker consulted data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to examine which states have seen the most significant increase in firearm-related background checks between 2011 and 2021. The figures taken into consideration are criminal record requests initiated by an officially licensed Federal Firearms Licensee or criminal justice/law enforcement agency before issuing a purchase or transfer permit.
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011KatMoy // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 202.8%
--- Checks in 2011: 617,597
--- Checks in 2021: 1,870,113
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 1,436,646
KatMoy // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 202.8%
--- Checks in 2011: 617,597
--- Checks in 2021: 1,870,113
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 1,436,646
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011JEWEL SAMAD // Getty Images
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 204.2%
--- Checks in 2011: 199,086
--- Checks in 2021: 605,570
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 445,110
JEWEL SAMAD // Getty Images- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 204.2%
--- Checks in 2011: 199,086
--- Checks in 2021: 605,570
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 445,110
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011DmyTo // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 207.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 228,935
--- Checks in 2021: 702,930
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 619,603
DmyTo // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 207.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 228,935
--- Checks in 2021: 702,930
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 619,603
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011CHANDAN KHANNA // Getty Images
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 207.5%
--- Checks in 2011: 96,484
--- Checks in 2021: 296,694
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 222,042
CHANDAN KHANNA // Getty Images- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 207.5%
--- Checks in 2011: 96,484
--- Checks in 2021: 296,694
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 222,042
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011damann // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 214.2%
--- Checks in 2011: 121,014
--- Checks in 2021: 380,249
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 295,071
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damann // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 214.2%
--- Checks in 2011: 121,014
--- Checks in 2021: 380,249
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 295,071
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Kryuchka Yaroslav // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 218.9%
--- Checks in 2011: 16,016
--- Checks in 2021: 51,071
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 39,959
Kryuchka Yaroslav // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 218.9%
--- Checks in 2011: 16,016
--- Checks in 2021: 51,071
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 39,959
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Yasemin Yurtman Candemir // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 233.3%
--- Checks in 2011: 187,321
--- Checks in 2021: 624,251
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 474,871
Yasemin Yurtman Candemir // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 233.3%
--- Checks in 2011: 187,321
--- Checks in 2021: 624,251
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 474,871
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 233.6%
--- Checks in 2011: 55,404
--- Checks in 2021: 184,807
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 146,184
Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 233.6%
--- Checks in 2011: 55,404
--- Checks in 2021: 184,807
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 146,184
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Lutsenko_Oleksandr // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 252.8%
--- Checks in 2011: 262,331
--- Checks in 2021: 925,496
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 746,690
Lutsenko_Oleksandr // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 252.8%
--- Checks in 2011: 262,331
--- Checks in 2021: 925,496
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 746,690
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Gagarin Iurii // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 255.4%
--- Checks in 2011: 216,797
--- Checks in 2021: 770,432
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 565,119
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Gagarin Iurii // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 255.4%
--- Checks in 2011: 216,797
--- Checks in 2021: 770,432
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 565,119
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 266.1%
--- Checks in 2011: 126,627
--- Checks in 2021: 463,562
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 354,870
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 266.1%
--- Checks in 2011: 126,627
--- Checks in 2021: 463,562
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 354,870
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 270.1%
--- Checks in 2011: 694,784
--- Checks in 2021: 2,571,685
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 3,998,754
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 270.1%
--- Checks in 2011: 694,784
--- Checks in 2021: 2,571,685
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 3,998,754
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 271.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 209,268
--- Checks in 2021: 776,297
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 501,896
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 271.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 209,268
--- Checks in 2021: 776,297
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 501,896
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Dmitri T // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 285.6%
--- Checks in 2011: 114,368
--- Checks in 2021: 440,999
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 412,741
Dmitri T // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 285.6%
--- Checks in 2011: 114,368
--- Checks in 2021: 440,999
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 412,741
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 298.4%
--- Checks in 2011: 66,621
--- Checks in 2021: 265,432
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 205,491
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 298.4%
--- Checks in 2011: 66,621
--- Checks in 2021: 265,432
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 205,491
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 307.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 8,582
--- Checks in 2021: 34,928
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 24,810
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 307.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 8,582
--- Checks in 2021: 34,928
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 24,810
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Lutsenko_Oleksandr // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 310.5%
--- Checks in 2011: 201,843
--- Checks in 2021: 828,561
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 564,951
Lutsenko_Oleksandr // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 310.5%
--- Checks in 2011: 201,843
--- Checks in 2021: 828,561
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 564,951
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Cass Tippit // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 312.9%
--- Checks in 2011: 155,912
--- Checks in 2021: 643,707
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 498,195
Cass Tippit // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 312.9%
--- Checks in 2011: 155,912
--- Checks in 2021: 643,707
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 498,195
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011megaflopp // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 337.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 122,097
--- Checks in 2021: 533,540
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 446,903
megaflopp // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 337.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 122,097
--- Checks in 2021: 533,540
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 446,903
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Lutsenko_Oleksandr // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 384.8%
--- Checks in 2011: 54,470
--- Checks in 2021: 264,077
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 278,570
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Lutsenko_Oleksandr // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 384.8%
--- Checks in 2011: 54,470
--- Checks in 2021: 264,077
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 278,570
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011carroteater // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 464.3%
--- Checks in 2011: 159,840
--- Checks in 2021: 902,047
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 617,962
carroteater // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 464.3%
--- Checks in 2011: 159,840
--- Checks in 2021: 902,047
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 617,962
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Dmitry Markov152 // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 485.3%
--- Checks in 2011: 11,355
--- Checks in 2021: 66,462
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 51,286
Dmitry Markov152 // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 485.3%
--- Checks in 2011: 11,355
--- Checks in 2021: 66,462
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 51,286
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011YES Market Media // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 577.3%
--- Checks in 2011: 241,671
--- Checks in 2021: 1,636,929
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 1,255,284
YES Market Media // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 577.3%
--- Checks in 2011: 241,671
--- Checks in 2021: 1,636,929
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 1,255,284
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011Jonathan Weiss // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 659.9%
--- Checks in 2011: 29,093
--- Checks in 2021: 221,071
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 152,088
Jonathan Weiss // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 659.9%
--- Checks in 2011: 29,093
--- Checks in 2021: 221,071
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 152,088
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States where gun sales have increased the most since 2011BearFotos // Shutterstock
- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 62,750.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 20
--- Checks in 2021: 12,570
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 14,491
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BearFotos // Shutterstock- Increase in NICS firearm background checks: 62,750.0%
--- Checks in 2011: 20
--- Checks in 2021: 12,570
- Checks so far in 2022 (as of Nov. 30): 14,491
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