News  Weaponry collected by Bristol Juvenile Probation Officers during Guns for Groceries event are transformed into garden tools in time for Spring

Fifty-nine of the guns Bristol Juvenile Probation Officers helped collect during a Guns for Groceries initiative during the winter were recently melted down and hammered into small gardening tools just in time for Spring as part of the Swords to Plowshares event at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.

“The weapons were cut into pieces and melted and then hammered into small gardening tools and jewelry. I think it is a great way to get guns off the streets and turn them into something useful and that symbolizes hope,” said Bristol Juvenile Chief Probation Officer Christopher Gray. “Our court participated in this event previously and it was a huge success. It’s fun for all and a great way to spread awareness about public and gun safety.”

Bristol Juvenile PO’s collaborated with the Fall River and New Bedford Police Departments to collect a total of 229 guns (firearms and BB guns), “a significant amount of ammunition,” and other weapons such as Samurai swords, according to Chief Gray. The guns were collected at the Blessed Trinity Church in Fall River and the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in New Bedford and exchanged for grocery gift cards in November. The police were at both locations and were in charge of handling the firearms and weapons.

The Swords to Plowshares event took place four months later on March 27th.

“It was a great turnout and a wonderful way to bring the community together,” said Bristol Juvenile First Assistant Chief Steven Rebello, who represented the Massachusetts Probation Service at the event.

Swords to Plowshares—a nonprofit co-founded a decade ago in New Haven, Connecticut— was first introduced by retired Episcopal Suffragan Bishop Jim Curry who travels to these events throughout the northeast.

“At the forge, we hammer guns into gardening tools and art. We forge rings from shotgun barrels into hearts-symbolizing that the change we need begins in the transformation of our own hearts,” Bishop Curry stated.