More background checks means more Americans are armed.
Via Washington Times:
A record number of firearms background checks were conducted by the FBI in 2015 — equating to roughly 44 every minute.
The agency reported Monday that it conducted a total of 23,141,970 checks last year, eclipsing the prior yearly record of roughly 21.1 million checks set in 2013.
The background checks are conducted through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for gun purchases from federal firearms licensees and for permits to carry guns, and while the checks serve as an indicator of gun sale trends in the U.S., each check does not always equate to a sale.