During recent remarks captured on video, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) discussed her support for a national firearms registry and a federal buyback program. In the clip, Omar said:
“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
Her comments echo long-running proposals among some lawmakers who believe a federal registry would help track firearm ownership and identify stolen guns. A nationwide buyback program has also been floated in the past, typically framed as a voluntary effort to reduce the number of privately owned firearms.
Gun owners and Second Amendment advocates have consistently expressed concerns about registry efforts, warning that centralized lists of firearm owners raise major privacy and civil liberties issues. Many also note that previous federal proposals faced significant constitutional challenges.
Omar’s remarks are already fueling new debate about federal gun policy, especially when it comes to national registries and large-scale buyback programs. Her comments have drawn strong reactions from both sides of the gun-rights discussion, and many gun owners see this as a sign of where future legislative efforts may be headed.