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'Guns to Gardens' event offers Granite Staters a way to get rid of old firearms — for good

New Hampshire Public Radio | By Olivia Richardson
Published June 12, 2023 at 6:00 AM EDT
An organizer at the Guns to Gardens event holds up a necklace made of repurposed gun parts.
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An organizer at the Guns to Gardens event holds up a necklace made of repurposed gun parts.
Olivia Richardson / NHPR
Guns to Gardens is a national movement that aims to offer an alternative for unwanted guns. This weekend's event was the first one hosted in New Hampshire.
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Guns to Gardens is a national movement that aims to offer an alternative for unwanted guns. This weekend's event was the first one hosted in New Hampshire.
Olivia Richardson / NHPR
Organizers said they hope this weekend’s event won’t be the last.
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Organizers said they hope this weekend’s event won’t be the last.
Olivia Richardson / NHPR

New Hampshire law limits what state agencies can do when someone turns in a gun they don't want anymore.

But an event Wesley United Methodist Church in Concord this weekend offered Granite Staters a different way to get rid of unwanted guns — for good. The goal was to give the firearms a new life as gardening tools, jewelry and more.

It's part of a national movement called Guns to Gardens. This weekend's event marked the first one held in New Hampshire. In total, organizers said 31 guns were dropped off at the Concord church on Saturday, including an AR-15.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full story from NHPR's Olivia Richardson.
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Olivia Richardson
I’m a general assignment reporter, which means that I report on all kinds of different stories. But I am especially drawn to stories that spark curiosity and illustrate the complexities of how people are living and who they are. I’m also interested in getting to the “how” of how people live out their day-to-day lives within the policies, practices, and realities of the culture around them. How do you find community or make sure you’re represented in places of power? I’m interested in stories that challenge entrenched narratives and am drawn to covering arts and culture, as they can be a method of seeing how politics affects us.
See stories by Olivia Richardson

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

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