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From gun metal to fashion statement, NOPD's new partnership uses jewelry to help fight crime - WDSU New Orleans
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
From gun metal to fashion statement, NOPD's new partnership uses jewelry to help fight crime - WDSU New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS —
The New Orleans Police Department’s new partnership with New York-based social enterprise, Liberty United, will transform guns into jewelry.
Guns from buyback programs and evidence, melt them down and transform them into hand-crafted jewelry for sale.
NOPD said more than 1,500 guns were taken off the streets in 2015 and more than 1,100 have been removed this year.
Liberty United’s goal is to end gun violence and protect at-risk kids across the country.
New Orleans is the fifth city in the U.S. to partner with Liberty United.
NOPD said the new partnership will help the city further reduce crime.
"By taking illegal firearms that have been seized and turn them into wearable statements, we’re not only encouraging a dialogue about ending gun violence, but we are supporting the organizations that are on the front lines helping the youth in our community," NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said.
Proceeds from the jewelry sales will go towards nonprofit organizations across the city, and at least 20 percent will benefit crime fighting organization, NOLA For Life.
WEBVTT JEWELRY. NOPD'S NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW YORK BASED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, LIBERTY UNITED, WILL TAKE GUNS FROM BUYBACK PROGRAMS AND EVIDENCE, MELT THEM DOWN, AND TRANSFORM THEM INTO HAND-CRAFTED JEWELRY FOR SALE. NOPD SAYS MORE THAN 1500 GUNS WERE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS IN 2015, AND MORE THAN 1100 HAVE BEEN REMOVED THIS YEAR. LIBERTY UNITED'S GOAL IS TO END GUN VIOLENCE AND PROTECT AT-RISK KIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NEW ORLEANS IS THE FIFTH CITY IN THE U.S. TO PARTNER WITH LIBERTY UNITED, AND NOPD SAYS THE NEW PARTNERSHIP WILL HELP THE CITY FURTHER REDUCE CRIME. >> BY TAKING ILLEGAL FIREARMS THAT HAVE BEEN SEIZED AND TURN THEM INTO WEARABLE STATEMENTS, WE'RE NOT ONLY ENCOURAGING A DIALOGUE ABOUT ENDING GUN VIOLENCE, BUT WE ARE SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE O THE FRONT LINES HELPING THE USE -- YOUTH.
