La. among states with largest decrease in gun background checks

The number of federal background checks for firearms sales declined last month in the United States, and retailers continue to run out of guns to sell during the buying spree driven by Washington’s new focus on gun control. Background checks decreased 10% nationally between December and January. Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi saw the largest declines in background checks from December to January, by nearly one-third, according to an Associated Press analysis of new FBI data published today. Those states, however, also saw some of the highest increases in background checks between November and December last year. Firearms sales surged around the country after the December shooting spree in Newton, Conn., where a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at the school. There were more than 2.78 million checks in December. That was a 12-month peak following an upward trend through last fall. The number fell to 2.48 million in January, which is still a higher figure than any month last year outside of December. The FBI conducted more background checks for firearm sales and permits to carry guns the week following the Sandy Hook school shootings than it has in any other one-week period since 1998. The second-highest week for background checks came mid-January, when Obama announced sweeping plans to curb gun violence. The full story can be found here.