According to a report from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System out Wednesday, there were about 2.8 million background checks on those seeking to purchase firearms last month. That total was 2 million the previous month, and 1.9 million in December of 2011, news accounts noted.

 

The Dec. 14 mass shooting in Newtown killed 20 children and six adults, spurring the president and some lawmakers to call for a reassessment of the country’s gun policies.