Christmas time, Valentines Day, time for gun sales

DENVER - Instant background checks that are required on all Colorado gun sales from licensed firearms dealers hit a single-day record on Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season the day after Thanksgiving.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation's InstaCheck program handled 1,306 checks in 12 hours, topping the previous single-day record of 1,234 set last December. Last year's Black Friday's total was 1,184.

"Black Friday is always a busy day," said Susan Kitchen, who retired Nov. 30 as agent-in-charge of the InstaCheck program. "Christmas is a big time day for gun sales. So is Valentine's Day."

Overall, the number of InstaCheck appear on target to top last year's record of 161,366. The check screens would-be gun buyers for things such as a criminal record and restraining orders.

A check doesn't equate to one gun sale, as those who undergo the checks can buy more than one gun.

CBI spokesman Lance Clem said he couldn't speculate on why the overall number of checks are up, though he said the state's population growth could be a factor.