A year after the Columbine High School massacre , the phrase gained newfound popularity following the 129th NRA convention , in Charlotte , North Carolina on May 20 , 2000 , when the actor , and president at the time of the NRA , Charlton Heston ended a speech by concluding : Heston then paused to pick up a replica of a flintlock long rifle and continued : Heston repeated the phrase at the end of each NRA convention over which he presided . When he announced his retirement in 2003 , he concluded by repeating " From my cold , dead hands . " The phrase has been used by numerous pro-gun rights groups including The National Rifle Association , National Association for Gun Rights . The term also lends itself to the Second Amendment for-profit corporation Cold Dead Hands
Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
From my cold, dead hands