Firearm deaths among US children surge over past decade, overtaking car crashes as leading cause

Firearm fatalities among those under 18 rose 87% between 2011-2021, becoming the top cause of accidental death for children.
In 2021, 2,590 US children and teens died from gun injuries, up from 1,311 in 2011.
Drug poisoning deaths among those under 18 more than doubled during this period.
States with more restrictive gun laws saw declines in youth gun deaths, while states with fewer laws saw increases.
Experts cite easy access to firearms in the US as a key factor in the rise in pediatric gun deaths.