Idaho Ranks 8th in Nation for Number of Accidental Shootings Involving Children

Eleven Idaho children were involved in accidental shootings in a 2 ½-year span, giving the state a per-capita rate of nearly twice the national average, an Associated Press review has found. The AP and the USA Today Network examined the circumstances of every accidental shooting involving children nationwide between the start of 2014 and June 30, 2016 – more than 1,000 incidents in all. Idaho has a rate of nearly seven such shootings per million residents. In comparison, the national rate was almost half that, at 3.39 incidents per million. In fact, Idaho ranks eighth in the nation for a higher rate of accidental shootings involving youth. Alaska, with a rate of 19 incidents per million residents, is at the top of the list.