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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Gun sales are on the rise.

According to the FBI a record number of background checks were conducted in December.

They said around 1.9 million background checks were conducted nationwide last month.

2011 also set the record for the most background checks conducted in a single year at around 16.5 million.

But while this data is a good place to start, it doesn't provide information on how many guns were actually purchased.

Background checks are required before a person is allowed to purchase a gun, but people are able to buy more than one gun on a single background check, and they can decide not to purchase any gun at all.

The FBI's numbers on background checks may also be skewed.

"In reality Kentucky is now using the NICS system to run a monthly background check on people that have concealed carry permits, so that's gonna skew the numbers quite a bit," Paul Paradis, owner of Paradise Sales, said. "It isn't really a purchase, it's just the state trying to check and make sure that a permit holder hasn't had any crimes in the past 30 days that would cause the state to take away their guns."

According to the NICS data Kentucky reported nearly 2.3 million background checks for 2011, the highest in the nation. Paradis said Utah also runs monthly background checks.

"They really kind of boosted the numbers, even beyond what to a sensible person would be reasonable," Paradis said.

Still, local gun shop owners said sales are up.

"Towards the end of November beginning of December we saw a huge jump in sales," Paradis said.

Mel Bernstien, better known as "Dragonman," said he has also seen a boost at his store.

"This was definitely the best year, you know the economy is down but at Dragonmans they're spending money," he said.

So what is behind the recent surge? There are several different theories.

Some have said the upcoming presidential election could be playing a role.

"They're afraid the new president might outlaw all these assault rifles, which Clinton did for 10 years," Bernstien said.

Paradis disagreed.

"I haven't heard that kind of comment from a single customer, and I know it's been speculated on by the anti-gun bunch, but that doesn't seem to hold true with anybody I've talked to," he said.

The Mayans may also be behind the recent uptick in sales. According to their calendar the world will end on December 21, 2012. 

"So in 12 more months it's the end of the world, so most people they believe stuff like that. They want to stock up. They're buying water, they're buying food, they're buying ammunition, but the guy who has the most guns in town will rule," Berstien said.

He added he also saw a huge boost in 1999 during the Y2K scare.

But Paradis believes the reason is more local.

"I personally believe that it's because of the sensationalized crimes that have been reported, such as the poor woman that was burned not too long ago," Paradis said.

"That has really panicked a lot of the public," he added.

The city of Colorado Springs saw a record number of homicides in 2011, and Paradis said he's seen a lot more people purchasing guns for protection.

"I would say more than 50 percent of people that we've done business with, or have come into the store, were first time buyers. People that didn't own guns that finally realized that the police department, as good as they are, are not gonna get to them in time to stop a violent predator," he said.

Both gun shop owners said they've also seen more women purchasing guns.

"That trend has been going on for a number of years," Paradis said.

He estimated that around 40 to 50 percent of his customers and students are now women.