Gun accidents and gun accident deaths are tragic events. Many times gun accidents happen because the firearm is loaded and left within the reach of a curious child. In an instant, the trigger is unintentionally pulled and the child is severely injured or killed. Usually the victim of a gun accident is an innocent child, but older youths and adults are also targets. The way these shootings occur is fairly simple and all too common. In 2010, 45% of households had a gun stored in the home. Nearly three-fourths of those households said they owned the gun primarily for self-defense and protection against crime. Research shows that most gun accidents occur in the home, and close to all of them involve guns that have been purchased as a line of defense. These statistics help to provide insight into how gun accidents happen, and how they may be prevented.