A sign that once said "Guns" now says "Love"

The above photos are of a building a couple of miles from my home. Seeing positive messages like this displayed is both unexpected and refreshing.

There's irony in that this building, until late last year, had been a gun shop for 65 years. Sales were especially high in the days following every presidential election, with lines down the block waiting to get in.

The shop was the subject of controversy and disapproval from many in the community. Among the reasons—an elementary school is located one-tenth of a mile away, and a California Department of Justice report identified the shop as one of the state's top sources of illegally purchased guns, as well as firearms used to commit crimes.

When the owners announced they were retiring and planning to close, the Culver City council voted to purchase the building to prevent a new gun shop from taking its place. While the city decides what to do with the property, artist Katy Krantz was commissioned to create these murals representing love, kindness, and community.