According to this study not only have the number of accidental firearm deaths been on the decline over the past century .
Firearm deaths now account for less than 1 % of all unintentional deaths , half of which are self - inflicted .
According to this study not only have the number of accidental firearm deaths been on the decline over the past century but they now account for less than 1 % of all unintentional deaths , half of which are self - inflicted .