FBI background checks in NC by month

While not a direct measure of gun sales, background check data provide a good proxy for counting gun sales in North Carolina.

This chart shows monthly background checks, a good proxy for gun sales in North Carolina
Gun sales spiked directly after the murder of George Floyd and protests that followed during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, North Carolina no longer required a permit to carry a pistol, leading to a spike in sales. Every year, gun sales spike in December around Christmas.
Chart: Jason deBruynSource: FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check SystemGet the dataCreated with Datawrapper