Carlos Gonzalez has owned a gun shop in Harlingen for 25 years.
He admits that during those years, some of his clients may have been drug cartel members.
Action 4 News asked Gonzalez what he thought about selling guns to these gang members.
“I try to avoid the problem,” Gonzalez replied. “I don't want to get in trouble by the feds.”
The Harlingen gun store owner said it's not often that he suspects cartel members buying his guns, but he has reported a few to authorities.
Gun smuggling has been an major issue in the Rio Grande Valley for quite some time.
But now, the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is stepping in.
A new policy requires gun shop owners in the border states like Texas, to report people who purchases two or more types of rifles in a five-day span.
But Gonzalez feels this is a waste of time and taxpayers money.
He said there is already other regulations in place which requires gun dealers to report sales of guns.
Despite the new policy and the governments attempt, Gonzalez feels the cartels will always find a way to get guns.
ATF officials estimate this new requirement will generate more than 18,000 reports a year making it easier for them to stop the flow of guns south of the border.
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