The organization is called Guns to Gardens, and the Denver chapter was created after the King Soopers shooting in Boulder back in 2021. Since then, they’ve disposed of hundreds of weapons, potentially saving hundreds of lives.

The group held an event Saturday at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Denver.

The volunteers run a well-organized drive-thru-style operation where people can hand over their guns, no questions asked. They watch as the guns are destroyed on-site by a saw.

“We take it to the saw station, where it’s destroyed, according to ATF legal guidelines,” said Michael Martin, the founder of RAWtools, the organization Guns to Gardens is under. “Then once it’s destroyed, the person turning it in there, they’re just off to the side in their car, they’re able to leave, and they get a gift card as a thank you.”

For retired schoolteacher Rita Niblack, every gun accepted is potentially a life saved. Now retired, she dedicates her time to making Denver safer.

“People bring firearms for different reasons, and one of them is- they have children in their home, and they no longer want these,” Niblack said. “We take firearms from people who say, ‘I have a family member with dementia, I don’t want this in my house anymore.’ We have had people who brought us a firearm that was used for suicide of a family member, and they want to see it cut up so that it can’t do harm to others.”

While volunteers pack up, the work is far from over for Martin. A seasoned blacksmith, he’ll later transform the guns into gardening tools or art.

“The idea of turning ‘swords to plowshares’ is what sparked a lot of this,” Martin said. “Turning it into something that’s going to cultivate life or bring joy to somebody’s life, like jewelry or something else, art is really meaningful. And everybody here today, we had over 50 volunteers that are a piece of that.”

Niblack wears a piece of that art around her neck. The heart, formed from a gun, sends an impactful message.

“I wear this because I want to remember how many hearts have been crushed by gun violence and keep them close to my heart as I do this work,” she said.

Martin estimates that there have been around 2,500 to 3,000 guns turned in within the Denver Metro area since they started these events back in 2021.

It was a heartbreaking Game 3 for Oklahoma City. Before the wounds could heal from its Game 1 blunder, the Thunder let another clutch-time game slip through their fingers.

A lot went wrong for the OKC Thunder. Not only just the final few minutes of the contest, but a plethora of mistakes to clean up that led to clutch time. The Thunder continued to miss free throws, still have not shot the ball well from 3-point land on the road in the playoffs and got out of sorts of offense in the second half.

“The game gets slower, execution matters more. In those moments when the game slows down, it
usually comes down to your best players making shots and making plays. I didn’t do a good enough job of that tonight and I think that’s the main reason for the outcome. I think it’s more so that than
anything, to be honest,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame Friday.

Gilgeous-Alexander posted a pedestrian stat line of 18 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a turnover on 31% shooting from the floor, 1-for-6 from 3 and 3-for-5 from the charity stripe. It was only right that the face of the team took accountability for the game. While it is not all on Gilgeous-Alexander, a cleaner game from him leads to an OKC win.

It is important to remember, the entire team is still growing. Despite your familiarity with this bunch and the feeling that this has been years in the making –– This is just Gilgeous-Alexander’s second ever playoff run as the guy.

“A few of the shots felt good, more than a few, they didn’t go in, obviously. Ultimately, it felt like a lot of
settling for jump shots. I always say the consistency of jump shots always goes up and goes down. You may get hot tonight, some nights you miss. The most reliable thing is the paint and the rim. I don’t think I did a good enough job again of that late game. There are probably various reasons why. Myself and the rest of the team, we’ll figure out why for the next situation. I think I for sure could get better,” The Thunder Superstar said following Game 3.

Despite the tough loss, the cameras caught the soon-to-be-named MVP smiling as he jaunted off the court following the Thunder’s overtime loss. Predictably, this caused a stir across social media. Following the game, Gilgeous-Alexander was asked about cracking that smile.

“Some fans were taunting me. And I know how the game goes. I know how life is. It’s easy to talk when you’re up, and I don’t ever want to show them that I’m defeated or mad or anything like that. Nothing’s written. The series isn’t over,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We have a lot to be optimistic about. I didn’t perform down the stretch but I have an opportunity the next game and the next game after that to make up for it.”

The Thunder’s three-time All-Star is right. There are plenty of things to be optimistic about. This was always going to be a war between these two squads, this scribe even picked the series to go the distance. Losses are part of that.

Oklahoma City has to respond in Game 4, with its backs against the wall, to even this series back up at two games apiece. A loss puts the Thunder down 3-1, an unlikely feat for a young team to be able to overcome.

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets pokes the ball away from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets scores over Luguentz Dort (5) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during overtime of the Nuggets’ 113-104 win at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. The Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference semifinal. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets reacts to the ball being knocked out of bounds after stealing it from Jalen Williams (8) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets screens Jalen Williams (8) of the Oklahoma City Thunder as Jamal Murray (27) drives during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

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Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets raises his hands after finishing through contact against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets argues a call during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets knocks down a three pointer over Chet Holmgren (7) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Aaron Gordon (32) of the Denver Nuggets screens Isaiah Hartenstein (55) of the Oklahoma City Thunder as he grabs Nikola Jokic (15) during overtime of the Nuggets’ 113-104 win at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. The Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference semifinal. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Head coach David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets argues a call with referee Ray Acosta (54) during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

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Luguentz Dort (5) of the Oklahoma City Thunder fouls out after making contact with Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during overtime of the Nuggets’ 113-104 win at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. The Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference semifinal. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives on Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Aaron Gordon (32) of the Denver Nuggets reacts to being whistled for a foul during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Cason Wallace (22) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) of the Oklahoma City Thunder defend Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets as he passes to Nikola Jokic (15) during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets is introduced before the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

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Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets spins around Luguentz Dort (5) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Peyton Watson (8) and Aaron Gordon (32) of the Denver Nuggets vie for a rebound against Chet Holmgren (7) and Alex Caruso (9) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets passes as Alex Caruso (9) of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Aaron Gordon (32) of the Denver Nuggets holds his form as he sinks a clutch 3-pointer over Chet Holmgren (7) of the Oklahoma City Thunder with less than 30 seconds to play during the fourth quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets smiles as he shakes hands with Aaron Gordon (32) after a mid-range jumper by Gordon during overtime of the Nuggets’ 113-104 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. The Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference semifinal. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

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Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with Nikola Jokic (15) after overtime of the Nuggets’ 113-104 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. The Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference semifinal. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)



Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets leaves the floor after overtime of the Nuggets’ 113-104 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, May 9, 2025. The Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference semifinal. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)