Firearms background checks, purchase denials on rise in Pennsylvania in 2020

Pennsylvania State Police processed about 22% more background checks for firearm purchases so far in 2020 compared to last year.

The state’s instant check system also denied 41% more applicants through the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2019, according to police statistics.

Gun sales and background checks have increased this year because of uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which has sickened or killed thousands and forced officials to close businesses statewide. A surge in gun sales started in mid-March as Pennsylvania’s coronavirus cases began to steadily increase.

Anyone buying a gun from a dealer is subject to a background check through the Pennsylvania Instant Check System, which allows dealers and police to determine if a person is legally allowed to buy or carry a firearm.

The number of cases referred to to law enforcement after a person is denied a purchase also is on the rise — 2,464 so far in 2020 compared to 1,783 in the same time period last year.

So far in 2020, 619,195 checks on the system have been initiated, including 304,876 in the first quarter and 314,219 during the second quarter, according to state police.

There were 10,667 people denied a firearm purchase during the first half of 2020, including 4,866 in the first quarter and 5,801 in the second quarter.

During the first six months of 2019, 483,889 checks were conducted, including 266,442 in the first quarter and 217,444 in the second quarter.

There were 6,321 denials in that time period of 2019, including 3,260 in the first quarter and 3,085 in the second quarter.

In 2019, 982,042 background checks were conducted and 12,342 people were denied, according to statistics. In the previous year, more than 1 million checks were conducted and about 11,000 people were denied.