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Peter Thum, the founder of Liberty United, will be chatting with locals at the Cadillac Palace Theatre through Saturday, as part of Chicago Ideas Week. Thum will showcase his line of jewelry, which has a deeply affecting spin: Each piece is made from illegal firearms, and is embossed with the serial number of a gun or bullet that has been removed from circulation. For each piece that's sold, 25 percent of the proceeds go to programs that aim to reduce gun violence in the US. The pieces themselves are haunting and elegant (check them out above), and Thum will display them at one of the so-called "lobby activations" at the downtown theater from approximately 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.
We'd rather see bullets being used for charitable—rather than violent—purposes, but that's just us. (And sure, we know it's not that simple.) Gun control is a controversial topic, and that's what the week is all about: swapping thoughts with people who have passionate beliefs and big, thought-provoking ideas. It is Ideas Week, after all.
· Liberty United [Official Site]
· Chicago Ideas Week [Official Site]