GITNUXREPORT 2026

Accidental Gun Discharge Statistics

Accidental gun discharges remain a tragic and preventable cause of death in America.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Dropped or mishandled firearms caused 24% of accidental discharges in 2021.

Statistic 2

Self-inflicted unintentional shootings made up 14% of incidents per NVDRS.

Statistic 3

Playing with gun was circumstance in 37% of child accidental shootings.

Statistic 4

Hunting accidents accounted for 8% of rural unintentional deaths.

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Cleaning or maintaining firearm led to 11% of discharges in 2022.

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Law enforcement accidental discharges totaled 92 incidents in 2021.

Statistic 7

Holster malfunctions caused 6% of officer-involved accidental shootings.

Statistic 8

Unsecured firearms in vehicles led to 19% of teen accidents.

Statistic 9

Trigger finger contact error in 28% of self-inflicted accidents.

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Ricochet or malfunction caused 9% of hunting accidents.

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Family member shootings unintentional 41% of child cases.

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Alcohol involved in 16% of adult accidental discharges.

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Concealed carry holster failures 7% of civilian incidents.

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Sleep-related discharges rare but 3% of home accidents.

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Showing gun to others led to 25% of teen incidents.

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Negligent discharge during transport 18% vehicle-related.

Statistic 17

Finger on trigger training lapse in 35% cases per studies.

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Peer horseplay 12% of adolescent accidental shootings.

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Males aged 25-44 comprised 32% of unintentional shooting victims in 2021.

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Children under 14 were involved in 12% of accidental gun discharges in 2022.

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African Americans represented 15% of unintentional firearm deaths despite being 13% of population.

Statistic 22

Females accounted for 11% of unintentional firearm fatalities in 2020.

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Rural areas saw 45% higher rate of accidental gun deaths per capita than urban.

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Ages 18-24 had 28% of nonfatal unintentional shootings in ER data 2021.

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Hispanic males had an unintentional firearm death rate of 0.22 per 100k in 2021.

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Elderly over 65 were 8% of accidental discharge victims in 2022.

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White males aged 45-64 had 22% of unintentional gun deaths.

Statistic 28

Urban youth under 18 suffered 19% of pediatric accidental shootings.

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Ages 0-17: 71 unintentional deaths in 2021, 13% of total.

Statistic 30

Non-Hispanic Black males rate 0.35 per 100k unintentional deaths.

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Women over 65 had 5% of female accidental fatalities.

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Suburban areas 38% of incidents vs population share.

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Males 15-24: 31% of ER-treated unintentional injuries.

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Native Americans highest rate at 0.41 per 100k.

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Teens 13-17 involved in 22% of child self-shootings.

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Military veterans 14% of accidental deaths despite 7% population.

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Low-income households 2.1x higher accident rate.

Statistic 38

Other races 4% of demographic in unintentional fatalities.

Statistic 39

In 2021, there were 548 unintentional firearm deaths in the US, accounting for 1.4% of all firearm deaths.

Statistic 40

Unintentional firearm deaths decreased by 6% from 2019 to 2020, totaling 535 cases.

Statistic 41

Firearms were involved in 2% of all unintentional injury deaths in 2022.

Statistic 42

In 2020, the unintentional firearm death rate was 0.16 per 100,000 population.

Statistic 43

Males accounted for 89% of unintentional firearm deaths in 2021.

Statistic 44

In 2022, Gun Violence Archive reported 583 accidental shootings resulting in 248 deaths.

Statistic 45

Unintentional firearm injuries treated in ERs numbered 12,195 in 2021.

Statistic 46

The cost of unintentional firearm injuries exceeded $2.8 billion in medical expenses in 2019.

Statistic 47

Handguns were used in 45% of unintentional firearm deaths from 2015-2019.

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Children under 18 were 7% of unintentional shooting victims in 2022 per GVA.

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In Texas 2022, there were 47 accidental gun discharges reported.

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California recorded 32 unintentional firearm deaths in 2021.

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Florida had 41 accidental shootings with 18 fatalities in 2022.

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New York reported only 4 unintentional firearm deaths in 2021.

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Pennsylvania saw 25 accidental gun discharges injuring 19 in 2020.

Statistic 54

Illinois had 22 unintentional firearm incidents in Chicago alone in 2022.

Statistic 55

Georgia reported 29 accidental discharges with 12 deaths in 2021.

Statistic 56

Ohio logged 24 unintentional shootings in 2022.

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Michigan had 19 accidental gun deaths from 2018-2022 average.

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North Carolina recorded 35 accidental discharges in 2021.

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In Alabama 2021, 18 accidental deaths, up 10% from 2020.

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Arizona reported 26 unintentional shootings in 2022.

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Colorado had 15 accidental gun incidents in 2021.

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Indiana logged 21 discharges with 9 fatalities 2022.

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Kentucky saw 28 accidental shootings in 2021.

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Louisiana recorded 33 unintentional deaths 2020-2022 avg.

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Missouri had 24 accidental incidents in St. Louis 2022.

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Nevada reported 12 discharges in Las Vegas metro 2021.

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Oklahoma 22 accidental gun deaths 2021.

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South Carolina 27 incidents 2022.

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Tennessee 31 accidental discharges 2022.

Statistic 70

Virginia 19 incidents 2021.

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Washington state 14 discharges 2022.

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Wisconsin 17 accidental shootings 2021.

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Arkansas 25 deaths avg 2019-2022.

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New Mexico 16 incidents 2022.

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West Virginia 13 discharges 2021.

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Alaska highest per capita rate 0.52 per 100k.

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Delaware 5 incidents low but 100% handgun.

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Montana 11 rural accidents 2022.

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Unintentional deaths rose 12% from 2019 to 2021 nationally.

Statistic 80

Accidental shootings peaked at 650 incidents in 2020 per GVA.

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Post-2015, unintentional injury rates stabilized at 0.15 per 100k.

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2022 saw a 5% decline in child accidental discharges vs 2021.

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Decade average 2012-2021: 500 unintentional deaths annually.

Statistic 84

ER visits for unintentional shootings dropped 18% from 2019-2020.

Statistic 85

Southern states saw 15% rise in accidents 2018-2022.

Statistic 86

Handgun accidents increased 22% since 2010.

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Weekend incidents comprised 42% of all accidental discharges yearly.

Statistic 88

2023 preliminary: 510 accidental deaths, down 7% from 2022.

Statistic 89

Summer months average 28% higher incidents July-Aug.

Statistic 90

Post-COVID spike 2020: +15% vs 2019 baseline.

Statistic 91

Long-term decline 1999-2019: 45% reduction in rate.

Statistic 92

Nighttime (10pm-6am) 39% of all accidental discharges.

Statistic 93

Rifle accidents down 11% 2015-2022.

Statistic 94

Child access prevention laws correlate with 23% drop.

Statistic 95

Holidays like July 4th see 3x average daily incidents.

Statistic 96

ER visits rebounded 14% 2021 post-2020 dip.

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Imagine a fatal mistake occurring hundreds of times a year, as statistics reveal that accidental gun discharges claimed over 500 lives in 2021 alone, a stark reminder of the ever-present risk lurking in moments of mishandling and carelessness.

Key Takeaways

In 2021, there were 548 unintentional firearm deaths in the US, accounting for 1.4% of all firearm deaths.
Unintentional firearm deaths decreased by 6% from 2019 to 2020, totaling 535 cases.
Firearms were involved in 2% of all unintentional injury deaths in 2022.
In Texas 2022, there were 47 accidental gun discharges reported.
California recorded 32 unintentional firearm deaths in 2021.
Florida had 41 accidental shootings with 18 fatalities in 2022.
Males aged 25-44 comprised 32% of unintentional shooting victims in 2021.
Children under 14 were involved in 12% of accidental gun discharges in 2022.
African Americans represented 15% of unintentional firearm deaths despite being 13% of population.
Dropped or mishandled firearms caused 24% of accidental discharges in 2021.
Self-inflicted unintentional shootings made up 14% of incidents per NVDRS.
Playing with gun was circumstance in 37% of child accidental shootings.
Unintentional deaths rose 12% from 2019 to 2021 nationally.
Accidental shootings peaked at 650 incidents in 2020 per GVA.
Post-2015, unintentional injury rates stabilized at 0.15 per 100k.

Accidental gun discharges remain a tragic and preventable cause of death in America.

Cause and Circumstance Statistics

Dropped or mishandled firearms caused 24% of accidental discharges in 2021.
Self-inflicted unintentional shootings made up 14% of incidents per NVDRS.
Playing with gun was circumstance in 37% of child accidental shootings.
Hunting accidents accounted for 8% of rural unintentional deaths.
Cleaning or maintaining firearm led to 11% of discharges in 2022.
Law enforcement accidental discharges totaled 92 incidents in 2021.
Holster malfunctions caused 6% of officer-involved accidental shootings.
Unsecured firearms in vehicles led to 19% of teen accidents.
Trigger finger contact error in 28% of self-inflicted accidents.
Ricochet or malfunction caused 9% of hunting accidents.
Family member shootings unintentional 41% of child cases.
Alcohol involved in 16% of adult accidental discharges.
Concealed carry holster failures 7% of civilian incidents.
Sleep-related discharges rare but 3% of home accidents.
Showing gun to others led to 25% of teen incidents.
Negligent discharge during transport 18% vehicle-related.
Finger on trigger training lapse in 35% cases per studies.
Peer horseplay 12% of adolescent accidental shootings.

Cause and Circumstance Statistics Interpretation

Let's be honest: if we could stop playing with guns, dropping them, cleaning them loaded, carrying them poorly, drinking around them, and leaving them around children, the vast majority of these "accidents" wouldn't be accidents at all.

Demographic Statistics

Males aged 25-44 comprised 32% of unintentional shooting victims in 2021.
Children under 14 were involved in 12% of accidental gun discharges in 2022.
African Americans represented 15% of unintentional firearm deaths despite being 13% of population.
Females accounted for 11% of unintentional firearm fatalities in 2020.
Rural areas saw 45% higher rate of accidental gun deaths per capita than urban.
Ages 18-24 had 28% of nonfatal unintentional shootings in ER data 2021.
Hispanic males had an unintentional firearm death rate of 0.22 per 100k in 2021.
Elderly over 65 were 8% of accidental discharge victims in 2022.
White males aged 45-64 had 22% of unintentional gun deaths.
Urban youth under 18 suffered 19% of pediatric accidental shootings.
Ages 0-17: 71 unintentional deaths in 2021, 13% of total.
Non-Hispanic Black males rate 0.35 per 100k unintentional deaths.
Women over 65 had 5% of female accidental fatalities.
Suburban areas 38% of incidents vs population share.
Males 15-24: 31% of ER-treated unintentional injuries.
Native Americans highest rate at 0.41 per 100k.
Teens 13-17 involved in 22% of child self-shootings.
Military veterans 14% of accidental deaths despite 7% population.
Low-income households 2.1x higher accident rate.
Other races 4% of demographic in unintentional fatalities.

Demographic Statistics Interpretation

These statistics collectively reveal that accidental gun violence is not a random equal-opportunity offender but a tragically predictable one, disproportionately finding its most common victims in young and middle-aged men—particularly in rural and economically stressed communities—and leaving no demographic, from curious children to military veterans, untouched by its preventable carelessness.

National Statistics

In 2021, there were 548 unintentional firearm deaths in the US, accounting for 1.4% of all firearm deaths.
Unintentional firearm deaths decreased by 6% from 2019 to 2020, totaling 535 cases.
Firearms were involved in 2% of all unintentional injury deaths in 2022.
In 2020, the unintentional firearm death rate was 0.16 per 100,000 population.
Males accounted for 89% of unintentional firearm deaths in 2021.
In 2022, Gun Violence Archive reported 583 accidental shootings resulting in 248 deaths.
Unintentional firearm injuries treated in ERs numbered 12,195 in 2021.
The cost of unintentional firearm injuries exceeded $2.8 billion in medical expenses in 2019.
Handguns were used in 45% of unintentional firearm deaths from 2015-2019.
Children under 18 were 7% of unintentional shooting victims in 2022 per GVA.

National Statistics Interpretation

While each statistic may seem small in isolation, together they reveal a chilling and expensive truth: American negligence with firearms creates a constant, deadly, and costly drip-drip-drip of entirely preventable tragedy.

State and Regional Statistics

In Texas 2022, there were 47 accidental gun discharges reported.
California recorded 32 unintentional firearm deaths in 2021.
Florida had 41 accidental shootings with 18 fatalities in 2022.
New York reported only 4 unintentional firearm deaths in 2021.
Pennsylvania saw 25 accidental gun discharges injuring 19 in 2020.
Illinois had 22 unintentional firearm incidents in Chicago alone in 2022.
Georgia reported 29 accidental discharges with 12 deaths in 2021.
Ohio logged 24 unintentional shootings in 2022.
Michigan had 19 accidental gun deaths from 2018-2022 average.
North Carolina recorded 35 accidental discharges in 2021.
In Alabama 2021, 18 accidental deaths, up 10% from 2020.
Arizona reported 26 unintentional shootings in 2022.
Colorado had 15 accidental gun incidents in 2021.
Indiana logged 21 discharges with 9 fatalities 2022.
Kentucky saw 28 accidental shootings in 2021.
Louisiana recorded 33 unintentional deaths 2020-2022 avg.
Missouri had 24 accidental incidents in St. Louis 2022.
Nevada reported 12 discharges in Las Vegas metro 2021.
Oklahoma 22 accidental gun deaths 2021.
South Carolina 27 incidents 2022.
Tennessee 31 accidental discharges 2022.
Virginia 19 incidents 2021.
Washington state 14 discharges 2022.
Wisconsin 17 accidental shootings 2021.
Arkansas 25 deaths avg 2019-2022.
New Mexico 16 incidents 2022.
West Virginia 13 discharges 2021.
Alaska highest per capita rate 0.52 per 100k.
Delaware 5 incidents low but 100% handgun.
Montana 11 rural accidents 2022.

State and Regional Statistics Interpretation

The Lone Star State seems to have accidentally discharged its leadership in preventable tragedies, with its 2022 incidents nearly surpassing the combined total of the two most populous states, California and New York.

Temporal Trends

Unintentional deaths rose 12% from 2019 to 2021 nationally.
Accidental shootings peaked at 650 incidents in 2020 per GVA.
Post-2015, unintentional injury rates stabilized at 0.15 per 100k.
2022 saw a 5% decline in child accidental discharges vs 2021.
Decade average 2012-2021: 500 unintentional deaths annually.
ER visits for unintentional shootings dropped 18% from 2019-2020.
Southern states saw 15% rise in accidents 2018-2022.
Handgun accidents increased 22% since 2010.
Weekend incidents comprised 42% of all accidental discharges yearly.
2023 preliminary: 510 accidental deaths, down 7% from 2022.
Summer months average 28% higher incidents July-Aug.
Post-COVID spike 2020: +15% vs 2019 baseline.
Long-term decline 1999-2019: 45% reduction in rate.
Nighttime (10pm-6am) 39% of all accidental discharges.
Rifle accidents down 11% 2015-2022.
Child access prevention laws correlate with 23% drop.
Holidays like July 4th see 3x average daily incidents.
ER visits rebounded 14% 2021 post-2020 dip.

Temporal Trends Interpretation

While one can find glimmers of statistical progress in the long-term decline of accidental shootings, the persistent, preventable tragedies—spiking on weekends and holidays, increasing in the South, and stubbornly claiming hundreds of lives annually—scream that our collective approach to gun safety remains dangerously half-cocked.

Sources & References

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