Law Student Second Amendment Research and Writing Competition.

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Annual Law Student Second Amendment Research and Writing Competition

Since inception, the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund has awarded millions of dollars for legal research, education, and support of cases defending the individual right to keep and bear arms.

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund now proudly announces its Annual Law Student Second Amendment Research and Writing Competition.

Any law student currently enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school is eligible to enter the competition by writing a scholarly article suitable for publication on a Second Amendment issue. Submissions may address any issue related to the Second Amendment, including constitutional interpretation, history and tradition, firearms regulation, prohibited persons, sensitive places, public carry, civil rights, federalism, criminal law, administrative law, or emerging post-Bruen litigation and doctrine.

Suggested topics may include:

• The future of as-applied challenges under Bruen;
• Historical analogues and the “history and tradition” test;
• The constitutionality of firearm restrictions on prohibited persons;
• Sensitive places doctrine after Bruen;
• Restoration of firearm rights under federal or state law;
• The role of dangerousness in Second Amendment jurisprudence;
• The intersection of the Second Amendment and administrative law;
• Whether the Second Amendment protects the rights of lawful firearm dealers and Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to sell firearms.

These suggested topics are optional and are intended only as examples. Students are encouraged to explore topics creatively and need not limit themselves to any particular question or viewpoint.

Please open the link to find out about the details of this research and writing competition, including the question presented.

Law School Writing Contest

Articles must be submitted on or before March 1, 2027, to [email protected].

Awards:

• First Place: $10,000.00
• Second Place: $7,000.00
• Third Place: $3,000.00

Submissions will be evaluated based on originality, depth of analysis, quality of research, clarity of writing, and overall contribution to Second Amendment scholarship.

The winners of the 2026 Law School Writing Contest were:

          First Place:            Steven Atkins. Gonzaga University School of Law.

          Second Place:       Henry P. Jones. University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

          Third Place:           Alicja Haran. George Washington University Law School.

We encourage any eligible law school students to enter this writing and writing competition.

Need Help?

Contact us by phone (703) 267-1250, fax 703-267-3985 or email [email protected]