FBI gun background checks reached record levels in 2019

Background checks on gun purchases hit a record of 28.3 million in 2019, amid calls for tighter gun restrictions by the Democratic presidential candidates.

“Democrats have been the best gun salesmen of the year,” said Alan Gottlieb, founder of Second Amendment Foundation, a pro-gun group.

The FBI conducted more than 28.3 million background checks last year through its National Instant Criminal Background Checks Systems, or NICS. That represents a 3% increase from the record 27.5 million set in presidential election year 2016.