The “Guns to Garden Tools” ceremony in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offers a unique and emotional tribute to individuals impacted by gun violence. Hosted by the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, the event allows community members to turn in firearms, which are then smelted into garden tools as a symbol of transformation and healing.
This year’s ceremony featured poignant tributes, including a mother who honored her son Aiden, who died from a stray bullet. “I think that physical things have meanings,” she said after striking a gun with a hammer, expressing a cathartic release through the act. The event not only addresses the grim statistics—over 19,000 non-suicide-related gun deaths reported in 2023—but also fosters a space for collective mourning and healing.
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