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N.H. State Police Saw Surge In Gun Sale Background Checks In 2016

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  New Hampshire saw a surge in the demand for gun sale background checks in 2016.

State police report administering 59,592 gun sale background checks last year. That marks a 19 percent increase from the 50,034 background checks the department conducted in 2015.

State police conducted 42,650 background checks in 2014.

In New Hampshire, all gun sale background checks are administered by the State Police.

Sgt. Michael McQuade says of the 59,592 background checks last year, 591 led to a denial of sale.

It’s not clear what impact the surge in background checks had on the department in terms of the time it takes to conduct them.

“We do not keep statistics on the time allocated or resources impacted regarding gun sales," McQuade said.

New Hampshire wasn’t the only state to see a surge in interest in gun sales last year. Connecticut saw a 73 percent increase in the number of pistol permits issued in the state last year. 

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Michael serves as NHPR's Program Director. Michael came to NHPR in 2012, working as the station's newscast producer/reporter. In 2015, he took on the role of Morning Edition producer. Michael worked for eight years at The Telegraph of Nashua, covering education and working as the metro editor.
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