The American appetite for exercising the right to keep and bear arms is alive and well in 2026.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) culls the raw numbers from the FBI monthly as accumulated by the National Instant Background Check System (NICS), and they must be discouraging for Second Amendment opponents.
February national retail gun sales numbers came in strong
The industry trade association announced that 1,265,320 checks were conducted for retail gun sales last month. That number is a solid 3.5% higher than the FBI figures for February 2025.
NFA checks also continued their sharp upward trend, with a 167% year-over-year increase last month.
And while firearm transactions are strong nationwide, there are specific hot spots where people rushed to acquire or increase their weapons and ammunition supplies. Look no further than Virginia.
Virginians are stocking up ahead of anticipated firearm restrictions
The new year brought a changing of the guard in state leadership, and unfortunately, its citizens are subjected to a radical new gun control regime. Lawmakers are tripping over themselves to introduce any and every conceivable restriction on firearms.
How did the people respond?
Last month’s NSSF-adjusted background checks for Virginia residents soared to 65,501 from last year’s 42,193. A quick calculator check shows a 55% leap.
While this is discouraging news for the state’s anti-gun cabal, it demonstrates yet again the will of the people.
The need for armed self-defense is everywhere, but away from urban enclaves, the majority of citizens respect the nation’s history and tradition of Second Amendment rights.
Virginia residents can read the handwriting on the wall—serious restrictions are coming that will only be fended off by fierce legal battles. They and many others voted with their feet and their purses to ensure that their fundamental rights are not infringed upon any more than they likely will be.
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