CHICAGO (AP) — Recent Illinois gun sales are breaking state records.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports Illinois State Police did 418,000 background checks on firearm purchasers in 2015 compared with 162,000 a decade earlier.
State background checks for December hit a record high for any month at 60,000. June, August and November also broke records. The state’s single-day record was broken on November 27th, Black Friday, when background checks topped 5,000.
The actual number of guns sold could be higher, because some transactions involve multiple guns.
Gun sales in Illinois have increased steadily since 2013. One suburban retailer says women represent the fastest-growing segment at his business. Other retailers say recent mass shootings and the state’s concealed carry law are some reasons for the increase in purchases.
Federal investigators say gun sales have also increased nationally.
