132% Increase from February to March in Rhode Island
These figures do not indicate gun sales, only that a background check was conducted. A person that has a clean background check may purchase more than one firearm.
Rounding out the top ten states with the highest increase in NICS background checks are:
- Michigan – 126%
- Arizona – 123%
- New Hampshire – 113%
- Maryland – 96%
- Vermont – 93%
- Texas – 92%
- Colorado – 91%
- Delaware – 88%
- New York – 88%
Gov. Raimondo Addressed Problem with an Extension to the Time Required to Complete Background Checks
In response to a letter from the RI Police Chief’s Association, dated March 20, 2020, outlining the problems local police departments were having with the NICS system, Gov. Raimondo signed Executive Order 20-07 extending the time frame to complete a federal background check from 7 to 30 days.