As President Obama continues to push for new gun control measures , new FBI data shows that January was the second-highest month on record for gun background checks . FBI figures posted Tuesday show there were 2,495,400 background checks done through the FBI 's National Instant Criminal Background Check System , known as NICS . The number was more than 1 million higher than any previous January . Also in January , 8,980 of the background checks resulted in gun purchase denials . U.S. law requires background checks for all people who try to buy firearms from federally licensed dealers . Obama still backs new gun ban . The data does not indicate exactly how many weapons might have been purchased , as some customers buy more than one gun at a time . December was the top record-setting month , with 2,783,765 background checks . The FBI makes the data available on its website without comment . The figures typically show high numbers of background checks during the holiday shopping months of November and December , and the background check numbers usually decline in January . There also is often a spike in checks after a dramatic incident of gun violence . The NICS system was launched in November 1998 after being mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 . Federal law does not require background checks for `` private transactions , '' such as sales between hunters . Many states have their own statutes requiring such checks for private sales . Gun debate : Where is the middle ground ?
Figures show there were 2,495,400 background checks through FBI system . The data does not show exactly how many weapons may have been purchased . December was the top record - setting month , with most background checks .