While most gun control advocates have so far stayed away from the topic of confiscation, a Democrat in California is now suggesting that the government should compensate those that would voluntarily turn in their weapons. Eric Swalwell mentioned in an op-ed piece on USA Today that the confiscation of assault weapons should be implemented in light of the recent events. He suggested that gun owners should give their assault weapons up voluntarily lest they are taken by force. He went on to suggest that those who would refuse to give up their weapons should face jail time.

Swalwell suggested another idea that would increase the chances of citizens voluntarily surrendering their high-powered weapons. The politician from California, who serves as the U.S. Representative from California’s 15th congressional district, suggested that a federal-backed buyback program should be put in place to compensate owners of assault weapons.

Owners will apparently get somewhere around $1,000 per weapon through the program, which all in all could cost the government around $15 billion. The figure is based on an estimate that there are currently around 15 million assault weapons currently in the hands of law-abiding citizens across the country. Most weapons of this type cost anywhere around $1,200 to $3,000 brand new. The politician justified the idea and mentioned in his article that $15 billion was a small price to pay for the people’s “right to live.”

The radical suggestion is a far cry from what most gun control advocates have proposed in the past, but it goes without saying that most probably have already thought of the idea before. However, due to the sensitivity of the debate, most have opted to propose more modest ideas such as wider background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

Swalwell’s proposal also calls for the reinstatement of the Assault Weapons Ban act, which was put in place in 1994 but was later repealed under the George W. Bush administration. Under the law, military-style semiautomatic assault weapons would be completely banned, except for use by law enforcement officers and shooting clubs.