By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-838866.mp3
Austin, TX – Attorney General Greg Abbott is applauding new legislation that gives Texas law enforcement increased authority to crack down on illegal weapons smugglers.
Abbot: "This bill is going to be a very important tool to DPS, to other law enforcement agencies that stop vehicles on their way to Mexico and find caches of guns that they can now take. So they are going to be preventing the cartels from getting their hands on these illegally obtained guns."
Abbott says Texas in now the top US source for illegal gun trafficking into Mexico and this new law will help.
The bill authored by Dallas Senator John Carona creates new felony penalties for gun smuggling and allows Texas law enforcement to keep the proceeds from confiscate weapons.
Governor Perry must still sign the bill.