Accidental fatal shootings in Tennessee dropped sharply in 2014

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 8/14/14. Trentyn Murrell (CQ), a sales associate at Shooter's Depot, holds a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun inside of the store on August 14, 2014. According to recent data 9mm pistols are the most common handgun confiscated by Tennessee Police Departments.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 8/14/14. Trentyn Murrell (CQ), a sales associate at Shooter's Depot, holds a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun inside of the store on August 14, 2014. According to recent data 9mm pistols are the most common handgun confiscated by Tennessee Police Departments.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Officials say five people died in Tennessee from accidental gunshot wounds in 2014, a sharp decline from previous years.

According to the state Department of Health, there were 19 such deaths in Tennessee in 2013. In 2012, there were 24, and in both 2011 and 2010, there were 31 such deaths.

Health officials said in a news release Thursday that incorrect data provided earlier indicated the number of fatal accidental shootings in the state had drastically increased from 19 in 2013 to 105 in 2014.

Officials are encouraging all firearm owners to take the proper training necessary to reduce the risk of accidents.

The original story has been corrected after health officials discovered that they had provided inaccurate information to reporters.

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