NICS is used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to instantly determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to buy firearms or explosives. Before ringing up the sale, cashiers call in a check to the FBI or to other designated agencies to ensure that each customer does not have a criminal record or isn’t otherwise ineligible to make a purchase.
This number does not represent the number of firearms sold in the U.S. Based on varying state laws and purchase scenarios, a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale.
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NICS background checks done by U.S. firearms licensees 2023, by state
In 2023, around **** million firearm background checks were registered by the FBI in Illinois, the most out of any state. The NICS background checks are used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to instantly determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to buy firearms or explosives.
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FBI. (January 1, 2024). Number of background checks done by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in the United States in 2023, by state [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 04, 2026, from /statistics/249687/number-of-background-checks-done-by-the-nics-in-the-us-by-state/
FBI. "Number of background checks done by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in the United States in 2023, by state." Chart. January 1, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 04, 2026. /statistics/249687/number-of-background-checks-done-by-the-nics-in-the-us-by-state/
FBI. (2024). Number of background checks done by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in the United States in 2023, by state. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 04, 2026. /statistics/249687/number-of-background-checks-done-by-the-nics-in-the-us-by-state/
FBI. "Number of Background Checks Done by The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (Nics) in The United States in 2023, by State." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 1 Jan 2024, /statistics/249687/number-of-background-checks-done-by-the-nics-in-the-us-by-state/
FBI, Number of background checks done by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in the United States in 2023, by state ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/249687/number-of-background-checks-done-by-the-nics-in-the-us-by-state/ (last visited August 04, 2026)
Number of background checks done by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in the United States in 2023, by state [Graph], FBI, January 1, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/249687/number-of-background-checks-done-by-the-nics-in-the-us-by-state/
