U.S. Gun Sales Skyrocketed in 2015

2015 was a great year for the firearms industry.

According to new federal statistics, 23.1 million background checks were conducted last year, which is the highest ever to be recorded since the system started tracking these numbers in 1998. This rate marked a 10 percent increase from 2014. Background checks are carried out for people who are either buying guns or seeking a gun permit.

These numbers do not represent a one-to-one ratio, meaning that each background check did not necessarily lead to a gun sale. It is also important to note that since states have different gun control laws, there could have been even more gun sales that were not recorded.

The FBI data also revealed that the single best day for the industry was on Black Friday when more than 185,000 background checks were processed. In terms of monthly numbers, December had the highest rate of background checks. The increased rate could have been due to the shooting in San Bernardino, California carried out by a radicalized couple and the terror attacks in Paris that killed 130 people, which the Islamic State claimed responsibility for.

President Barack Obama's call for stricter gun control laws could have also led to an increase in gun sales.

On Monday, the President discussed his executive plans to tighten gun control laws with the goal of reducing the rate of violent crimes in the U.S.

"We have to be very clear that this is not going to solve every violent crime in this country," Obama said on Monday reported by the New York Times. "It's not going to prevent every mass shooting; it's not going to keep every gun out of the hands of a criminal."

The entire package reportedly includes 10 provisions. One of the provisions will make it harder for people to sell and buy guns due to licenses and background checks. Republicans and gun rights advocates have already been heavily criticizing Obama's plans for gun control.

Obama made the official announcement Tuesday.