FBI Fielded More Background Checks For Gun Buyers In June Than Ever Before

The FBI ran nearly 8 million background checks for gun purchases from March to June, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Background checks for firearm purchases in June reached 7.8 million, up 136% from last year. Checks for civilians pursuing a license to carry were the highest recorded in the last 20 years, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the WSJ reported.

“With the pandemic, it’s driven more by fear for personal safety; it’s people who haven’t been interested in the past,” Jacquelyn Clark, Bristlecone Shooting, Training, Retail Center and Gun Range co-owner, told the WSJ.

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The sales of handguns used for personal protection have increased, with nearly two handguns sold for every rifle or shotgun, according to federal data, the WSJ reported.

Individuals previously critical of firearm ownership are among the surge of new buyers, the WSJ reported. A survey done by the National Shooting Sports Foundation found dealers project around 40% of sales are to first-time buyers, an increase from the normal average.