So I don't know about you, but I find it hard in this day and age not to waste inexhaustible amounts of time surfing the great WWW - and every now and then I find something that I really, really want the entire world to see because it is JUST THAT AWESOME. Inspiration that I am infatuated with. Inspiration infatuation! (I know it's actually a bit nonsensical (and maybe even really cheesy) but I just can't get over how cool it sounds so I guess you'll just have to deal.)

This is one of those things. (Brace yourself: rave oncoming.)

As you may or may not be aware, I'm pretty passionate about the issue of gun control. That said, I'm also pretty passionate about pretty things. Especially pretty shiny things (I have often been teased for my propensity to, much like a crow, beeline for anything that sparkles.)

And so I would like you to meet The Caliber Collection! I actual found it via this CNN video, and was instantly captivated by the combination of my two passions: political activism and design.

The Caliber Collection was borne out of a collaboration between Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker and jewelry designer Jessica Mindich of Jewelry for a Cause (which is also worth checking out!) to repurpose the tons of guns and bullet casings Newark had lying around from its buy-back program into beautifully crafted, one-of-a-kind brass and steel pieces. 20% of the profits from the jewelry itself then go right back into supporting gun buy-back programs, and the collection has already raised an impressive $20,000 in the weeks since its launch!

Here's a chilling statistic for you: some estimate that 48,000 Americans will die from gun violence before the end of this presidency if nothing changes (estimates for last year run around 12,000). And so this wonderful little project came into being to help get those guns off the street and onto your wrist! You can look pretty and feel good doing it!

The collection's true success, though, would be if it ran out of resources - if there were no longer any guns to be taken off the streets. But in the meantime, go and get 'em! And rest assured that your good fashion sense is saving lives!

Here is a video for your viewing pleasure, and you can also visit the website, like them on Facebook, and follow Jessica Mindich and/or Cory Booker on twitter - only if you're awesome enough, of course.


So happy Sunday, everyone! And you can look forward to another Creature Feature tomorrow!

NOTE: All images belong to Jewelry for a Cause. La Saloperie does not in any way, shape, or form pretend it has the power to melt guns down into sparkly arm parties.