TN - Data Error Causes Misreporting; Five Accidental Gunshot Deaths Confirmed for 2014

Sep 23, 2016 at 10:02 am by bryan


The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed today that a data error resulted in inaccurate accidental gunshot death numbers for 2014 being reported.

After manually reviewing death certificates, TDH reports five people died from accidental gunshot wounds in the state in 2014. In an additional eight cases, the manner of death was left blank or marked as pending on the death certificate but no follow-up death certificate was sent to the department; however, a review of the autopsies for those cases indicated none of those eight were accidental deaths.

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Incorrect data provided earlier indicated the number of accidental gunshot deaths had dramatically escalated from 19 in 2013 to 105 in 2014.

"We regret any confusion that may have arisen when data errors affected the number of deaths attributed to the accidental discharge of firearms in our state," said TDH Deputy Commissioner for Population Health Michael Warren, MD, MPH. "Even one accidental death is too many, and all firearm owners need to have a heightened sense of awareness about protecting themselves and others from the harm a loaded weapon may cause. We strongly encourage all firearm owners to take the proper training necessary to reduce the risk of accidents."

Annual accidental gun deaths in Tennessee since 1999:

  • 1999: 47
  • 2000: 44
  • 2001: 49
  • 2002: 46
  • 2003: 37
  • 2004: 38
  • 2005: 36
  • 2006: 30
  • 2007: 22
  • 2008: 17
  • 2009: 29
  • 2010: 31
  • 2011: 31
  • 2012: 24
  • 2013: 19
  • 2014: 5


The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency provides a free hunter education course that teaches proper gun handling and storage, knowledge of modern firearms and ammunition and other topics. For more information, visit www.tn.gov/twra/article/hunter-education.

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