A man kidnapped from a Brownsville restaurant and killed, Mexican troops deployed across the border, Army helicopters stationed in the Valley, and a movie theater massacre with ties to Harlingen, all factors leading some to arm themselves.
"Recently with all the violence going on I just feel like people just aren't safe anymore," David Cavazos of San Benito is going through the process of getting a concealed gun license.
He completed a safety course and had his fingerprints taken at the San Benito Police Department.
"The police can't be everywhere all the time and sometimes by the time they show up it may be too late."
But there are limits to where you can take a concealed gun.
"Bars, voting places those are locations, hospitals, locations where concealed guns are not allowed," said San Benito Police Detective Rogelio Banda.
But they are allowed in most places.
So Cavazos is taking matters into his own hands and admits he's not comfortable about what's happening along the border.
"You worry about spillover and that they might come over here and you know cause problems and people get in the way sometimes."
He's just one of those in the Valley feeling uneasy about the drug war and taking action to protect his family.
To get a concealed gun license you have to go through the Department of Public Safety.
Already this year they have issued more than 60-thousand licenses.
They have another 50-thousand applications on standby statewide.
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