Zain Abidin*

Cooper Medical School, Rowan University, USA

Hajira Shami

The George Washington University, USA

*Corresponding address: Cooper Medical School, Rowan University, USA. Email: abidinus4@gmail.com

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63137/jsteam.509205

ABSTRACT

Objective:

Firearm violence remains a major public health crisis in the United States, with firearm-related deaths and injuries contributing significantly to mortality, morbidity, and healthcare burden. Despite widespread public support for firearm safety reforms, legislative action has been limited. The National Rifle Association (NRA), supported by elite donor networks and cultural messaging, plays a critical role in shaping firearm policy and public perception. This systematic review explores the intersection of NRA influence, donor activities, and public health outcomes.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Peer-reviewed articles, high-quality grey literature, and government reports published between 2000 and 2024 were identified from PubMed, Scopus, JSTOR, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria focused on studies examining NRA lobbying activities, donor influence, cultural narratives, firearm legislation, and public health consequences. Data were extracted and thematically synthesized to identify key patterns across the literature.

Results:

A total of 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. Six major themes emerged: structured NRA lobbying tactics, amplification of political influence through donor networks, association between permissive firearm laws and adverse health outcomes, identity-based cultural messaging promoting firearm ownership, regional and temporal variations in NRA influence, and suppression of federally funded research on gun violence. Findings demonstrate a strong correlation between weakened gun laws, elevated firearm-related injuries and deaths, and political resistance shaped by cultural and financial factors.

Conclusion:

The results highlight the profound public health impacts of American gun culture and political lobbying. Unlike other high-income countries that implemented firearm reforms, the U.S. faces systemic obstacles rooted in identity politics and entrenched advocacy networks. Public health strategies must address both legislative change and cultural reframing to mitigate firearm violence.

Keywords: Donors; Firearms; Health Policy; Lobbying; Public Health; Review, Systematic

PDF FILE

How to Cite: Abidin A & Shami H. The Public Health Implications of American Gun Culture: A Systematic Review of NRA Influence, Donor Networks, and Firearm Violence Trends. J Sci Technol Educ Art Med. 2025;2(1)

This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International