Federal background checks for guns surged 41% in November

WEST BEND, Wis. (CBS 58) --- The demand for firearm safety and training courses continue to surge as November marks another record month of fire-arm related background checks, according to the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA).

According to USCCA, this is the 11th consecutive month in a row of record-firearm-related background checks, with a federal background checks for guns surging 41% in November. 

Officials say today there is an estimated 435 million firearms in private possession across the nation, with more than 5 million new, first time gun owners this year alone.

The USCCA said they have experienced "simultaneous growth" and surpassed over 500,000 new members. In 2020 alone, the organization say they have trained an estimated 92,950 students that will certify almost twice as many new instructors this year than any single year prior.

According to a news release, the growth comes despite a two-month stoppage due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines and operations restrictions. The group states USCCA instructors and range partners have trained twice as many students from January to August than the organization did in all of 2019.

President and founder of the USCCA Tim Schmidt said it has been incredible to watch support for the Second Amendment "skyrocket" over the last year.

"Here at the USCCA, we support law-abiding gun owners, new or experienced, through firearm education and training to ensure that safety remains a number one priority," Schmidt said. "While owning and carrying a firearm for self-defense comes with a lot of responsibility, that shouldn't hinder any American from taking control of their own safety and security."

For more information on the USCCA, click here.