11,403,417. That’s how many NICS background checks have been conducted in 2009, through the end of October. If November and December are like October, 2009 will be the record for yearly total NICS checks.
For reference, in the last quarter of 2008, Americans bought enough guns to supply both the Chinese and Indian armies. 1.5 BILLION rounds of ammo were sold in December 2008 alone (which explains the shortages…). Staggering.
