For some people, Christmas and the holiday season are the most wonderful time of the year (and now that song is playing through my head, too). For other people, though, this time of year is incredibly stressful.
Now, I’m not talking about the unfortunate people who mourn over lost loved ones during the holidays. They should have our comfort and sympathy.
Other people who feel stress during the holiday season, though, I don’t feel so sympathetic towards. It’s mainly due to the reason that they’re stressed. Black Friday terrifies them, and while my intention isn’t to stress them out, my actions and the actions of millions of other Americans are going to have that effect. A press release from the National Shooting Sports Foundation might clue you in as to why:
NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, revealed that the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) completed 530,156 background checks related to firearms for the week leading up to, and including, “Black Friday,” one of the busiest shopping days of the year. That figure is down from 2024’s total of 613,380 for the same time period. The 2025 total is a 13.6 percent decrease from the 2024 figure.
NICS completed 165,183 background checks on “Black Friday” alone. The figure approximates firearm sales at retail on that day, although it also includes background checks for other purposes related to firearms such as approvals for concealed carry permits.
That’s right. Nearly half a million potential firearms sales over the Black Friday shopping weekend.
Why wouldn’t anti-2A zealots get stressed about that? After all, that’s the exact opposite of what they’re pushing for since they’re wanting to ban guns.
As for me, though, I love seeing the firearm industry continuing to do well and Americans continuing to exercise their right to keep and bear arms. And to buy more guns, too.
