How Many Is 3 Million? December NICS Checks, To Start

by
posted on January 5, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gsagi2015_fs.jpg (1)

More than 3 million NICS checks conducted in December helped elevate 2015 to an all-new gun sales record. Those numbers are lofty, so to put things in perspective for your watercooler conversations today, here are some other things that amount to roughly 3 million. 

City: Chicago’s population

State: Number of people in Utah

Country: Population in Kuwait

Celebrations: Attendees at November’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City

Victims: Polish Christians killed during the Holocaust

Serving: Members of the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II

Banking: Estimated annual earnings of Ronda Rousey

Working: Workers worldwide who telecommute at least part time

Educating: Public school teachers in the United States

NICS Checks: 3,314,594 law-abiding citizens underwent a NICS background check in December, elevating 2015’s annual total to record-shattering 23,141,970—roughly the number of jobs created by women-owned companies in the U.S. 

Latest

I Carry Springfield SA35 Galco 1
I Carry Springfield SA35 Galco 1

I Carry: Springfield Armory SA-35 in a Galco Combat Master Holster

See the Springfield Armory SA-35 4" High Power pistol paired with a classically styled Galco leather OWB holster and a Buck 110 Auto knife our latest "I Carry" EDC kit.

How the Mainstream Media Turned Against Armed Citizens

Why is so much of the mainstream, legacy or corporate media opposed to our right to keep and bear arms? There are real answers to this question.

The Armed Citizen® April 10, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: Steyr Scout Mk II

Steyr Arms updated its Scout rifle design with a Mk II version several years back. Faced with heavy competition, is it still the benchmark for the "general-purpose rifle?"

Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies Disregard “Buyback"

The National Post, a Canadian news source, reports that “the majority” of law-enforcement agencies across Canada are disregarding their federal government’s mandated Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP).

Safariland Parent Company Announces Acquisition of Alien Gear Holsters

Following a court-supervised bankruptcy auction, Safariland's parent company, Cadre Holdings, announced it would acquire Alien Gear Holsters and other assets from Tedder Industries in a $10.3 million deal.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.