This morning, the New York Times had a article explaining how the powerfull lobby plans to expand its influence. With two major wins at the Supreme Court this past year, they consider citizens Second Amendment rights settled law. Now, they will focus their efforts on other issues.
As Congressman McCarthey put it,
the group drew its power from its money — it has donated more than $17.5 million to federal candidates, mostly Republicans, since 1989, and spent millions more in lobbying — and the fear of political retribution.
and it has used it's money to influence the health care debate where a provision was added to the bill banning insurance companies from charging higher premiums for people who own guns. More nonsense like this will become more common if major legislation isn't watched closely.
The article goes on to say:
When the N.R.A. had a narrower range of targets, it relied on a core group of political figures and met with stiffer resistance from vocal gun control advocates in Congress and outside groups. It now has freer rein to leave its mark politically on issues that once seemed out of its reach.
We have already seen the effects powerfull corporate lobbyists have on Congress. The NRA has a history of being a major influence, and the fact that it wants to be even more will not lead to good results.