The recent increase in the media coverage of gun related incidents has driven millions of Americans to purchase firearms at an alarming rate resulting in a record breaking number of gun background checks in the United States this year.

Dramatic coverage of gruesome and brutal gun related killings, including that of incidents in South Carolina and Louisiana, have prompted some legislators and citizens to rally together for stricter background check laws and gun safety programs. Although most of these calls for stringent laws have fallen on deaf ears in some states.

Last month, Virginia Del. Patrick Hope talked to USA today about his proposals for stricter background check laws. “We’re not at all threatening anyone’s ability to get a gun, What we’re talking about here is common sense legislation. I don’t think anyone is threatened by background checks” Hope said.

Many people across America might feel a bit different, basing on the sheer number of gun purchases the past couple of months. A record breaking number of background checks for May to August of this year just further backs that claim and the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System’s numbers have revealed this to be a fact.

The background check system had logged a total of 1.7 million background checks that are usually made at federally licensed dealers for gun purchases for the month of August. This is the highest number ever recorded in August ever since the checks were started back in 1998. The same story goes for May, with 1.6 million checks, June, with 1.5 million checks, and July with 1.6 million.

Historically, whenever there is a perceived threat to firearm rights, people tend to buy more guns instead. General counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation confirms this when he mentioned in an interview that : “Whenever there is a call for gun control, sales increase. Unfortunately, this is a pattern that repeats itself”.