Guns now the leading cause of death for children as firearm-related fatalities soar in US and Illinois: ‘It’s a horrifying and terrible trend’

Of the children who survive their injuries, Henry said many still face serious medical complications, including disabilities caused by paralysis, abdominal and gastrointestinal damage, the need for a colostomy and lifelong mental health struggles.

Firearm-related deaths increased by 28% from 2019 to 2020 — the most recent data available — from 7,947 gun-related deaths in 2019 among children and people age 24 and younger to 10,197 in 2020, according to a report released this week by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In Illinois, firearm deaths spiked from 1,367 deaths in...