The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund hosted the Next Generation RKBA Scholars Seminar in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 7, and 8, 2012. Twenty-five select scholars heard, among others, Professor Randy Barnett, Professor Robert Cottrol, Professor Nicholas Johnson, Professor Joyce Malcolm, Dr. Stephen Halbrook, and Don Kates. The evening speaker was the Honorable Judge Laurence H. Silberman, US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, author of Parker v. D.C., which was affirmed by the Supreme Court in Heller. Information and audio from the Seminar can be found at http://www.alicemariebeard.com/scholars/

In January of 2010, the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund held its Scholars Seminar in New Orleans. A video of the presentation is available at http://joshblackman.com/blog/?p=3647, courtesy of Josh Blackman, one of the presenters at the seminar.

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund also distributes to libraries, public defender services, and other persons free books and law review articles for educational purposes, provides research grants, and conducts a student writing contest. Such activities are a public benefit. The recipients of research grants have resulted in the publication of scholarly writings, which end up in the public domain. Recent activities in this area include the following:

• At January 7, 2011, meeting $108,000 Independence Institute Research Grant (David B. Kopel).
• At January 7, 2011, meeting $35,000 for scholars seminar for January 2012 in Washington, D.C.
• At January 7, 2011, meeting $25,000 research and writing grant for David Hardy.
• At January 7, 2011, meeting $10,000 for Second Amendment web blog for David Hardy.
• At January 7, 2011, meeting $1,000 grant to Don B. Kates to attend Federalist Society Faculty Conference in San Francisco.
• At January 7, 2011, meeting $7,500 research grant to Kenneth Klukowski.
• At April 29, 2011, meeting $55,000 research grant Independence Institute Second Amendment Project (David Kopel) and Paul Gallant and Joanne Eisen research.
• At April 29, 2011, meeting $16, 000 research and writing grant (David Hardy).
• At April 29, 2011, $6,500 educational documentary films (David Hardy).

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Writing Contest

Papers were submitted for the 2012 academic year writing contest by students enrolled in an elementary, junior high, or high school. Winners were selected by a committee made up of NRA Assistant General Counsel Skipp Galythly, Executive Assistant Aimee Thomson, and Paralegals Rachel Winkler and Noelle Dowd . In the year 2012, we had 360 Senior entries and 123 Junior entries for 483 total essays. Prizes are awarded, in each category, as follows: First Place prizes are $1,000; Second Place prizes, $600; Third Place prizes, $200; and Honorable mention, $100.

Congratulations to the following 2013 Winners!

Click here to view previous years grants & contest winners.