IIRC, aren't amateur radio users required to be licensed? The confiscations would parallel the shutdown, would they not?
Yes, amateurs are required to be licensed. Confiscating radios, though, would be even less effective than attempting to confiscate firearms. Many amateur operators are no longer active, and/or no longer own radios; searching their homes would be fruitless. Others have multiple radios, but not necessarily set-up and easily viewable. As technology has advanced radios have gotten much smaller. Many, many hams own handhelds that can be about the size of a walkie-talkie. Lastly, enough amateurs understand how to build a radio from old parts that are VERY easy to acquire. The real problem is that the old-style amateurs that understand the electronics behind their radio is getting smaller every day. The requirements to get an amateur radio have been DRASTICALLY dumbed-down over the years. Like much in our society, actually understanding something is being replaced by merely having an idea of how to use it.