LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Craig Kaviar, a Louisville blacksmith and sculptor isn't one to fan flames. Through his work, he hopes to achieve the opposite: taking unwanted guns, voluntarily handed over, and transforming them into garden tools.
"It's an idea of using the biblical quotation of 'Hammering your swords into plowshare,'" Kaviar said. "It's a movement to try to get some rational gun use. It's a movement to ask politicians to listen to the majority of people."
Kaviar's plowshare plays a key role in Louisville's "Guns to Gardens" event.
"What we do is, we have surrenders where people can surrender their guns, they are cut up before they're turned over," he said. "Then the group gives me all of the gun parts. I've been making these [garden] hoes, as well as other kinds of artwork."
Since partnering with the group a year ago, Kaviar said he's collected about 50 gun parts and sold 15 as repurposed garden tools.
While an astute craftsman, Kaviar isn't naïve. He understands his work can only go so far in stopping the 366 non-fatal shootings LMPD has reported so far this year.
Last month, while announcing his 2024 legislative priorities, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said his office will seek to allow LMPD to destroy guns used to injure or kill people.
As it stands, under current state laws, those weapons are required to be auctioned off by Kentucky State Police.
"The money that is raised and is given to the police departments around the state ought to be done through taxes," Kaviar said.
"Guns to Gardens" Event
"Guns to Gardens," takes place Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 at the Westwood Presbyterian Church in the Chickasaw neighborhood.
Anyone bringing guns will be anonymous, and Kaviar said those surrendering will get a gift card while supplies last.
According to Kaviar, anyone dropping off guns must follow these rules:
- The firearms must be unloaded and in the rear of the vehicle
- Someone else will remove the firearm and take them to the chop saw while the donator is present
However, they will not accept ammunition.
For more information, email guns2gardenslouisville@gmail.com.
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