Doctor-affiliated PACs fund candidates opposing gun safety policies

The researchers also evaluated candidates’ National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) letter-grade ratings. The NRA-PVF is a PAC that ranks political candidates based on their support for the NRA’s mission, including opposition to expanding background checks and imposing limits on assault weapons. Most candidates receive either an “A” or “F” rating.

“We were surprised to find that there was a pattern across the largest PACs affiliated with physician professional organizations — they gave more money and to a greater number of Congressional candidates who voted against background checks and were rated A by the NRA,” said Hannah Decker, a medical student at Emory University’s School of Medicine and study co-first author. “This pattern held true even for physician groups that publicly endorsed evidence-based policies to reduce firearm injury.”

The study found that 20 of 25 physician-affiliated PACs, including the American Medical Association, American College of Emergency Physicians and American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, contributed more money to U.S. Senate incumbents who voted against SA 4750 than to those who voted for it. Additionally, 24 PACs contributed more to House incumbents who did not co-sponsor HR 1217. In total, the 25 PACs contributed an additional $500,000 to Senate candidates who voted against SA 4750 and an additional $2.8 million to House candidates who did not co-sponsor HR 1217.

Twenty-one PACs contributed more money to candidates rated A by the NRA, and 24 contributed to a greater proportion of A-rated candidates by the NRA than candidates not rated A. Physician-affiliated PACs gave nearly $1.5 million more to A-rated candidates by the NRA than to those with other ratings. 

Among the nine PACs whose affiliated organizations endorsed the policy recommendations laid out in the 2015 call to action, eight supported a greater proportion of NRA A-rated candidates. All 16 PACs affiliated with organizations that have not publicly endorsed the call to action supported a greater proportion of NRA A-rated candidates. 

“The #ThisIsOurLanemovement has highlighted that many physicians are willing to publicly speak out on Twitter and in the press against the NRA and in favor of evidence-based policies to reduce firearm violence,” Schuur said. “We aren’t suggesting that these groups actively sought to support candidates that are against evidence-based firearms policies. Rather, our study shows that these physician PACs haven’t made candidates’ stance on firearms policy an issue they consider. 

“The question going forward is if physicians can change their organizations’ PACs contribution criteria, so NRA A-rated candidates no longer get the majority of physicians’ political dollars,” he added.

In addition to Schuur and Decker, Olesya Baker, a statistician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was also involved in the research. The team received no external funding for the study.

— Read more in Jeremiah D. Schuur et al., “Association of Physician Organization–Affiliated Political Action Committee Contributions With US House of Representatives and Senate Candidates’ Stances on Firearm Regulation,” JAMA network Open 2, no. 2 (22 February 2019) (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.7831); and Steven E. Weinberger et al., “Firearm-Related Injury and Death in the United States: A Call to Action From 8 Health Professional Organizations and the American Bar Association,” Annals of Internal Medicine (7 April 2015)