While the mainstream media continues to peddle fears of a so-called “Trump Slump 2.0” in the gun industry, the numbers tell a very different—and very American—story: Over 1.2 million guns were sold in April alone.
According to federal data, April 2025 marked the seventh-highest April on record for background checks related to firearm purchases since the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) was launched more than 25 years ago.
The FBI reported 2,194,006 total NICS checks last month. And even after the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) adjusted those numbers to exclude permit checks and rechecks, the core figure still came in strong at 1,174,294 firearm sales—only a slight dip from April 2024’s 1,216,116.
But here’s what matters most: the one-million-sales-per-month milestone remains unshaken, a streak that’s held steady since July 2019.
“Firearm ownership continues to be a priority for law-abiding citizens,” said Mark Oliva, public affairs officer for the NSSF. “The proof of that is over 1.2 million times in April, Americans freely approached the counter at their local firearm retailer to take lawful ownership of a firearm. These gun buyers did so with a commitment by the Trump administration that their Second Amendment rights would be protected and they wouldn’t be ostracized by their government for exercising rights protected by the U.S. Constitution.”
And remember—these NICS figures don’t even account for permit holders who are legally exempt from additional background checks or private sales between individuals, which are perfectly legal in many states.
Despite the political noise, millions of Americans are doubling down on their rights, their safety, and their freedom—one gun purchase at a time.
Freedom isn’t slowing down. It’s locked, loaded, and here to stay.
