132% Increase from February to March in Rhode Island

RI Background Checks Nov 1998 to March 2020

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.