Sauk Prairie community event sees guns forged into garden tools

With their mission calling them to serve, the congregation of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sauk Prairie took the prophecy of Isaiah to heart and turned the symbolic implements of war into implements of peace. On April 18, the congregation held a Sauk Prairie safe disposal event with Guns to Gardens and accepted donated guns. Those guns were disassembled on site and would eventually become garden tools.

Isaiah Chapter 2:4 reads: "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Signaling a time of peace, the congregation at St. John’s wanted to turn the iron of war into iron for peace.

Jackie Frosch, who helped organize the event with Connie Henry, explains: “It was important this not be presented or interpreted as an ‘anti-gun’ event, but rather as a community outreach service to anyone wanting to safely dispose of an unwanted gun for whatever reason--it was inherited, they no longer hunt, they have lost a loved one to gun violence--the reasons are personal and many.”

St. John’s congregation first got wind of the idea about a year ago, when retired pastor and blacksmith Jeff Wild gave a presentation and forging demonstration of gun parts made into tools. Wild was sharing his post-retirement passion: Guns to Gardens, the local Madison-based chapter of a national grassroots program partnered with RAWtools.

RAWtools, founded in 2013 in Colorado, takes as its leading principle the idea that “by using weapons to make garden tools and other hand tools, we are creating a symbol for change.” Through its affiliates like Guns to Gardens in Madison, individuals can anonymously and safely surrender unwanted firearms. Trained volunteers dismantle the guns on-site, and blacksmiths forge the metal into functional garden tools, symbolizing the transformation from violence to growth.

After serving as a pastor for 34 years, Wild retired in 2015. Through Guns to Gardens, Wisconsin, he partners with congregations across denominations to facilitate safe firearm disposal events. Wild provides on-site blacksmithing where surrendered guns are dismantled and reshaped.

Frosch explained, “Wild spoke to us about the Safe Disposal events going on around the country and the concept sparked interest in our congregation to provide such an event locally.”

“We knew this had to be about more than just disposing of unwanted guns,” explained Frosch.

“It was one element under a much larger umbrella focused on community wellness and safety topics, such as understanding the impact of gun violence, preventing gun violence and suicide, emphasizing school safety and hunter safety programs and highlighting mental health resources,” she said.

“Our Safe Firearm Disposal event was the finale to a year-long focus on all of these topics.”

Frosch explains the work that went into the event: “We started by pulling together a small team to begin the preparations, which included engaging our local police department, finding corporate sponsorship and gathering event day volunteers. We were fortunate to also have Jeff Wild part of our preparation and event day team.”

Frosch continued, “Marketing of the event to the Sauk Prairie and surrounding communities was a big component since it was the first time an event of this type was held locally.”

Predictably, reactions on Facebook were mixed, with several negative comments on the initial post.

“Social media marketing received mixed reactions with many expressing support and as many expressing disapproval,” said Frosch. However, she added that social media was the primary source for how people found out about the event. They also shared flyers with local businesses, churches and the Chamber of Commerce.

On a cold and windy April morning, the surprisingly intricate process of converting a donated gun into a garden tool unfolded in the parking lot of St. John’s. Frosch explained the “simple and straightforward” process.

It began when “Participants drove into the parking lot where ‘Greeters’ welcomed them to the event and made sure firearms were unloaded and in the trunk of the vehicle.” Remaining in their vehicle, these anonymous participants were handed off to a “Shepherd” who guided them through the entire process.

“Guns were double checked for ammunition by a team trained to do so, serial numbers were collected by the police department, and then the firearm was handed over to a Demo team,” said Frosch.

“The Demo team removed the stock of the gun and made 2-3 cuts into the metal with a Chop Saw,” Frosch said. “The pieces are then retained to later be forged into garden tools.”

Once the firearm was dismantled, the participant was presented with a gift card as a thank you.

The participant was finally offered a survey about their “experience with firearms.”

“To our surprise, we had two participants drive in before the start time...a good start!” said Frosch.

All told, they received eight donations, which exceeded their expectations.

“We considered it a success!” said Frosch. “We haven't made any commitment to doing more events in the future, but it is something we would consider if the interest is there.” They wish to express thanks to Sauk Prairie Healthcare for the purchase of the gift cards.

“An interesting story emerged in the process,” she noted.

“We had a couple of gun collectors approach the event wanting to offer participants cash for their guns before they pulled into the parking lot. During some down time, we chatted with the gentlemen and shared information about the event and the goals.”

“As a result, they later returned with a gun donation.”