Fort Worth activists, including pastors from various denominations, have launched a new initiative to combat gun violence in the city’s southeast region. The Guns to Gardens program aims to convert unwanted firearms into garden tools for survivors of gun violence.
The program was initiated by Pastor Kyev Tatum and is being led by an interracial group of pastors who want to address racial disparities in gun violence fatalities. Participants can surrender a gun used in a suicide or homicide, and in return, receive gift cards as a “token of appreciation.”
Tatum hopes that the program will bring more awareness to the issue of gun violence and teach clergy how to offer trauma-informed care to those impacted. The organization is also planning to launch a community garden outside Tatum’s church, where participants can connect with nature and heal from trauma.
The initiative has been welcomed by local residents, including Annettra Hicks, who lost family members to gun violence. “It would save so many lives,” Hicks said of the program’s value. “To save a life, and give somebody an opportunity is huge, and it’s even bigger for the person.”
A Guns to Gardens chapter already exists in Dallas, but one is needed for Tarrant County, particularly in the southeast part of Fort Worth. The organization is seeking donations with a $50,000 goal to fund the program.
Source: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/07/08/fort-worth-pastors-launch-program-to-turn-guns-into-garden-tools-for-victims-of-violence