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“We have more guns in this country than we have humans. So one of the things that is going to be important is to create a registry so we know where the guns are. We know when they go into the wrong hands when they’re stolen. And we can actually start a buyback program. I know that some of the Minnesota legislators have had that legislation and that’s something that we should be thinking about on a federal level.” — Rep. Ilhan Omar
🚨 Make no mistake: So-called “gun registries” are the first step to firearm confiscations. @IlhanMN’s agenda has nothing to do with safety. It’s all about eroding your Second Amendment rights. pic.twitter.com/ML7ojmddw9
— NRA (@NRA) December 1, 2025
Calling for a national gun registry and federal “buyback” isn’t just bad policy. It’s a constitutional red flag wrapped in feel-good rhetoric.
Start with the registry.
Saying “we just need to know where the guns are” sounds harmless until you remember what a registry actually is: a government list of who owns what firearms, where they live, and what they’ve got.
History, both here and abroad, shows that registries aren’t some neutral safety tool. They’re the prerequisite for future restrictions and, in the worst cases, confiscation. If the state knows exactly where every gun is, it also knows exactly where to go when the political winds shift.
Then there’s the idea that a registry lets government know when guns “go into the wrong hands.” That’s fantasy-level bureaucracy.
Criminals don’t file change-of-ownership forms. Straw buyers and thieves aren’t logging into some federal portal. The only people guaranteed to be tracked and punished when the rules change are the law-abiding.
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The “buyback” part is just as backwards. The government didn’t sell these guns to begin with, so it’s not “buying them back.” It’s paying people with their own tax dollars to surrender lawfully owned property, while violent offenders keep doing violent-offender things.
Framing all of this as a reasonable response to “too many guns” skips the core issue: the right to keep and bear arms is an individual constitutional right, not a privilege that exists only if Washington can barcode every rifle and pistol in the country.
In a free society, government doesn’t get to keep a master list of who’s armed. That’s the point of the Second Amendment. Not a bug to be fixed with a registry and a catchy name for confiscation-lite.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.