GUNS & CHRISTMAS

Georgia's average monthly number of background checks for gun purchases in 2003: 16,013

Number of background checks conducted in December 2003, the busiest month of the year: 31,025

Number of gun purchases denied in Georgia in 2003 because of felony convictions, mental health reasons, or domestic violence convictions: 3,272

Number of people suspected of lying on gun purchase background checks between January 2000 and May 2003: ? 27,799

Number of people prosecuted for lying on gun purchase background checks between January 2000 and May 2003: 103

Georgia's rank among states whose gun stores sold the most number of firearms used in crimes: 4

Number of Georgia gun stores that have sold 200 or more firearms used in crimes: 13

Number of crimes committed between 1996 and 2000 traced to guns purchased at the Lakewood Avenue Pawn Shop: 1,025

Rank of Lakewood Avenue Pawn Shop among the nation's gun stores that sold the most firearms used in crimes: 6

SOURCES: The U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Georgians for Gun Safety; Americans for Gun Safety Foundation; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; and the FBI.