Figures compiled by federal regulators from last weekend showed a new record in national gun sale numbers for the busiest shopping day of the year.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background Check System processed 214,913 background checks on Black Friday, as detailed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. This is an 11-percent bump from last year’s figures of 192,749 and shattered the previous Black Friday record, set in 2017, of 203,086.

The day will rank third on the NICS "Top 10 Highest Days" list behind two days in March 2021 that came just after the COVID lockdowns were declared. 

"The background checks reported by the FBI are in keeping with the trends NSSF has seen throughout the year," said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. 

With firearm sales remaining consistently strong, with over a million per month for more than four years running, Bartozzi stressed, "These figures tell us that there is a continued strong appetite for lawful firearm ownership by law-abiding Americans and that firearm manufacturers across the country continue to deliver the quality firearms our customers have come to expect."

Banner image: Glock 21 Gen 5 MOS in .45 ACP, one of Glock's new models for 2023. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)