Researchers seeking to identify each state's most "distinctive" kind of injury-related death uncovered a pattern that could help cut shootings across the South.

The study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that seven states — West Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee — all suffered from disproportionately high rates of unintentional firearm deaths.

The researchers noted that none of the states have laws requiring the safe storage of guns, have been shown to prevent accidental shootings, particularly among children.

"Restricting access for unauthorized individuals through safe storage of firearms might help to reduce the large disparity of unintentional firearm deaths occurring in these states," the Johns Hopkins researchers wrote.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/study-flags-seven-states-high-rates-accidental-gun-deaths-n525621