2008 Youth Essay Contest

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 nine and below), with separate prizes awarded to the winners in each category. First prizes are $1,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds; second prizes, $600 in Savings Bonds; third prizes $200 in Savings Bonds; and honorable mention, $100 in Savings Bonds.

The entry deadline for this contest is December 1, 2008. Essay contest winners will be selected by the NRACRDF and notified in early 2009. 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 2008-2009 academic year, or homeschooled students in an equivalent grade level who have not previously received a prize.

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 and presentation. 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.

Description, Prizes & Deadline: The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund is sponsoring a writing contest commencing July 1, 2007 and concluding June 1, 2008 for law students. The subject of the contest is "The Right of the Individual to Keep and Bear Arms as a Federally Protected Right." Cash prizes will be awarded to First, Second, Third and Fourth place winners in the amounts of $5,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

Eligibility: The contest is open to all individuals who are law students at the date of submission and who have not been previously admitted to practice law in the United States. Admission to practice after submission of the paper is not disqualifying.

Format and Contents: Papers should be double spaced, not exceed 30 pages in length, exclusive of endnotes, of law review quality, and cannot have been previously published. Publication subsequent to submission is encouraged. Citations should conform with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, current edition.

Please mail your submission to:

Description, Prizes & Deadline: Scholarships are being awarded to law students who submit articles on the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The article must be received by the Fund on or before June 1, 2008. The prizes are as follows: First place: $12,500 toward tuition; Second place: $5,000; Third Place: $2,500.

Eligibility: The contest is open to all individuals who are law students at the date of submission and who have not been previously admitted to practice law in the United States; such students shall be in good standing in an accredited law school as a 3rd year law school student as of Fall, 2007. Admission to practice after submission of the paper is not disqualifying.

Format and Contents: Papers must be of quality suitable for publication in a law review or journal, and cannot have been previously published. The author's full name, address, and phone numbers, as well as a brief discourse on the author's legal education, should accompany entries. Publication subsequent to submission is encouraged. Citations should conform with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, current edition. All entries become the property of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund.

Should you have any further questions please feel free to contact us at (703) 267-1252.