Global disarmament

Front of the courthouse in Providence, the capital of the smallest US state of Rhode Island, set an unusual monument
in the form of concrete columns, which, as if in plastlin, "glued" thousands of old guns. Impressive obelisk was made by the artist Boris Bell more than ten years ago, in 2001, during the buy-back program of firearms among the population, which was held under the title «Guns for Goods». Background to the appearance of this monument is not less interesting than the viewing of the obelisk.





Pistol totem
In the 90 years of the twentieth century, rampant street crime in Pittsburgh has reached incredible proportions: competing gangs staged shootouts in the streets, and it happened that the bullets fall civilians. The mass arming citizens, everyone wanted to have on hand their own weapons, which, though not brought into play, but still adds confidence that the person will answer than the bandits who broke into the house at night. After a few years, the problem of street crime gradually disappeared, fighting and shooting in the past, and the survivors gangsters have become honorary citizens, wealthy and occupy any position in government circles. During the years of gangster mayhem citizens have accumulated in their homes the entire arsenals, and the authorities had the idea of ​​universal disarmament. Repurchases. Those who wish to surrender their weapons paid from 25 to 50 dollars. Brought a lot of weapons. All firearms went for scrap, but at some point, Michael Hirsch, engaged in buying, decided that this weapon you need to create something memorable after dashing nineties. And so it appeared "pistol totem».