Gun sales have surpassed all records, with an average of 16 million guns sold each year. This is because buyers are more concerned about violent crime.

According to the FBI the FBI has seen new highs in background checks and gun sales over the past three years.

The FBI announced this week that it had processed 31.5 million criminal background checks in 2022. This includes 16.4 million gun sales. Rest are for security checks and concealed carry permits.

This was the third highest NICS number, after records were set in 2020/2021.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the industry group for firearms, the increase in NICS sales and checks is a “new norm” that indicates that gun buyers will continue to rise.

Mark Oliva, spokesperson for NSSF, stated that the trend was similar to what the NSSF had seen in the past.

“When background checks are completed for gun sales to retail customers, the market will settle to a new normal’. This new normal is usually higher than the trend line before the spike. This case shows that there were almost 13.2 million people before the spikes in 2020 and 2021. He said that 16.4 million shows that the industry continues receiving a signal from gun buyers today.”

Oliva’s group will be hosting the Las Vegas Shot Show later in the month. Oliva added that there is a strong desire by law-abiding Americans for firearms.

Secrets was told by gun store representatives that sales are driven by safety concerns and fear of violence in the country. Record numbers of people are obtaining concealed carry permits, which usually precede gun purchases.