We are still in the process of grading the 2012 contest.  We will notify the winners and post on the webpage soon.

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund sponsors a scholarly writing contest for grades K-12. This contest, and the due date for entries, are described below. All writing contest entries should be submitted to the following address:

Entries must be postmarked on or before the entry deadline. All entries become the property of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund.

2013 Youth Essay Contest

Click here for a copy of the 2013 Entry Form.

Description, Prizes & Deadline: The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund(NRACRDF) is once again sponsoring an essay contest celebrating the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The theme for the essay is "The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why it is important to our nation."

Essays will be judged in two categories: Senior (grades 10-12) and Junior (grades 9 and below), with separate cash prizes awarded to the winners in each category. First place cash prizes are $1,000, $600 for second place prizes, $200 for third place prizes, and $100 for honorable mention.

The entry deadline for this contest is December 1, 2013. Essay contest winners will be selected by the NRACRDF and notified in early 2014. Winners will have their names published in InSights, and one of the Official Journals.

Eligibility: The contest is open to all students enrolled, or who will be enrolled, in an elementary, junior high or high school during the 2013-2014 academic year, or homeschooled students in an equivalent grade level, who have not previously received a prize in the senior category. A previous winner in the junior category, who is now eligible for the senior category, may submit an entry.

Format and Contents: All essays should be about 1,000 words, neat, and legible (double spaced, typed preferred). Essays will be judged on originality, scholarship (including works cited) and presentation (including grammar and spelling). The fund historically receives a large number of entries and the contest is highly competitive. Include your name, age, address, telephone number, school and grade on the essay and also submit a statement from a teacher or parent saying that the paper is your original work. All entries become the property of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund.