Tennessee Department of Health Corrects Accidental Gunshot Death Data

Nashville, TN – 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.

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

About the Tennessee Department of Health

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. TDH has facilities in all 95 counties and provides direct services for more than one in five Tennesseans annually as well as indirect services for everyone in the state, including emergency response to health threats, licensure of health professionals, regulation of health care facilities and inspection of food service establishments.

Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health