Free Republic

Metalworking projects are turning an object of death into something full of life that sustains life in New Mexico, advocates say. Gardening tools, musical instrumentals, bug sculptures – all of the metal for these projects comes from gun buyback events. People get cash or something of cash value when they turn in their guns, which are dismantled into that metal. “Two years ago, in honor of two students that they lost last year to gun violence, they actually made a working electric guitar and a working xylophone,” said Miranda Viscoli, executive director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence. Viscoli’s...

Montgomery County residents handed over 111 guns, 11 BB guns, 10,000 rounds of ammunition and a grenade at Saturday's statewide gun turn-in day, according to county police spokeswoman Lucille Baur. Among the 111 guns were 68 hand guns, 27 rifles -- including at least one AK-47 -- 15 shot guns and a tiny pen gun, Baur said. In addition to the guns, police also received a sword and two canisters of tear gas, which were turned in by a former D.C. police officer who told police they left over from riots in 1968. "A successful day," Baur said. ---snip--- But...