2023 Youth Essay Contest

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund continues its yearly Youth Essay Contest celebrating the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. 

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What Does The Second Amendment Mean to You?

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund sponsors a scholarly writing contest for grades K-12. The theme for the essay is "What Does The Second Amendment Mean to You?".

ENTRY FORM

2020 Winners

Previous Winners

Download

Download, complete and submit the Entry Form with your composition.

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Compose

Write an essay that is about 1,000 words, neat, and legible (double spaced, typed preferred). 

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Submit

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund
Office of General Counsel
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030

(703) 267-1250

Remember

Entries must be postmarked on or before the entry deadline of December 31. All essays become the property of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund.

Description, Prizes & Deadline

Essays will be judged in two categories: Senior (grades 9-12) and Junior (grades 8 and below), with separate cash prizes awarded to the winners in each category. First place cash prizes are $1,000, $600 for second place, $200 for third place, and $100 for fourth place.

The entry deadline for this contest is December 31. Entries postmarked by December 31 will be accepted. Essay contest winners will be selected and notified in the first half of the following year. All essays become the property of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund.  Any essays submitted shall be deemed to be a "work made for hire" as such term is defined in the Copyright Laws of the United States, and shall be proprietary to and the exclusive property of the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund, and the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund shall have the sole right and power to apply for any and all copyrights and other protections in its name.  If it should be deemed for any reason that an essay is not a "work made for hire" and/or that the author of the essay is the owner of some or all of any of the rights in the essay, then the essay’s author hereby assigns and transfers exclusively and irrevocably to the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund all rights of every kind and nature in said essay.

Eligibility

The contest is open to all students enrolled, or who will be enrolled, in an elementary, junior high, or high school during that academic year, including homeschooled students in an equivalent grade level, who have not previously received a prize in their category. For example, 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). Please note that the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund historically receives a large number of entries and the contest is highly competitive. Include your name, age, address, telephone number, school, and grade as well as a statement from a teacher or parent certifying that the essay is your original work.

Entry Form

Be sure to complete your entry form and submit it with your essay.

ENTRY FORM

Learn More About the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund

Browse through the site to discover how the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund has provided millions of dollars in support of cases involving individuals and organizations defending the individual right to keep and bear arms and to support legal research and education

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

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