The number of businesses licensed to sell guns and ammunition in Alabama rose by nearly 10 percent in less than five years, a rapid increase compared to Alabama’s relatively unchanging population.

Yet, Alabama’s is a smaller spike in licensed sellers than seen across the nation as a whole.

According to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, there were 1,511 federal firearms licensees in Alabama in August of 2018, the most recent month for which data was available. That’s an increase of 9.7 percent since January 2014, when there were 1,377 licensees in Alabama. During that same span, Alabama’s population increased by less than 1 percent.

The ATF grants licenses to retail dealers to sell firearms and ammunition to the public. Tracking these licenses is one way to track changes in gun sales in Alabama, a state that makes knowing the number of people with pistol and concealed carry permits difficult.

The number of licensed gun sellers in Alabama has gradually increased for at least the past five years. | Graphic by Ramsey Archibald

Nationwide, the number of dealer licenses increased by 19.5 percent between 2014 and 2018.

According to previous research by AL.com, the number of licensed Alabama gun sellers saw an even more drastic spike between 2010 and 2013. That earlier surge would make Alabama’s 2018 mark an eye-popping 43 percent increase in licensees since 2010.

Huntsville had the most gun sellers of any city in Alabama as of 2018, with 72. It was followed by Mobile and Birmingham, both with around 50. Montgomery, Alabama’s third largest city, had far fewer at just 28.

Huntsville and neighboring Madison combined have over 100 gun sellers. | Graphic by Ramsey Archibald

In several smaller cities, the rate of gun sellers is even higher.

Looking at cities with at least 10,000 residents, the city of Cullman, around 50 miles north of Birmingham on I-65, has highest rate of gun licensees per capita. That’s 13 federally licensed gun sellers for every 10,000 people in Cullman.

Cullman is one of just four Alabama cities with at least 10,000 people and more than 10 gun sellers for every 10,000 residents. The others are Anniston, Athens and Scottsboro. All four of those cities are in the northern half of the state.

Eight of the top 10 cities for licenses per capita are in North Alabama.

There are also six smaller cities in Alabama with fewer than 10,000 people and a high rate of licensees. Hazel Green, Brewton, Arab, Hamilton, Andalusia and Wetumpka all have more than 10 licensees for every 10,000 residents.

Cullman has the highest number of per-capita gun sellers in the state. | Graphic by Ramsey Archibald

Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Email Ramsey Archibald at rarchibald@al.com, and follow him on Twitter @RamseyArchibald.