http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/12/21/season-gun-accidents-deaths-spike-during-holidays/95690064/

The happiest of seasons is also among the deadliest: Unintentional shootings spike during the holidays, and are more likely to occur than any other time of the year, according to an analysis by The Associated Press and the USA TODAY Network.

In all, 32 people were killed nationwide and 59 injured over the past two years from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day, which the analysis identified as the most likely day for accidental shootings each year. The victims were mostly male and young, with a median age of 19. Nearly half the shootings were self-inflicted, and most occurred in their own homes.
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Several factors contribute to the increase:

Children and teenagers are out of school for the holidays and have access to unsecured guns at their homes and those of relatives and friends.
Adults are drinking alcohol and inattentive to gun safety or their children.
New guns are given and received as gifts in the tens of thousands.
It’s a popular time of year for hunting.