The Violence Policy Center will award one student $3,000 in the first “Alexander Hamilton Second Amendment Student Writing Competition.”

Contestants must write an article, essay or law review about the Second Amendment and the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in United States v. Emerson. Graduate students in law, history, political science and related disciplines along with undergraduates in honors programs are eligible.

“The Emerson decision confirms the need for careful scholarship that considers the historical evidence and legal precedents regarding the meaning of the second amendment,” said Mathew Nosanchuk, center litigation director.

“We are looking for articles which promote a more balanced approach to the Second Amendment and individual rights.”

Nosanchuk said there seem to be many people interested in the competition.

The papers will be judged by legal scholars, historians and center staff based on the quality and clarity of writing, depth of the analysis and reasoning, use of historical materials and topic relevance.

Entry materials are available at www.vpc.org.