AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry said that, in too many cases, transnational gangs have law officers outgunned and outnumbered. But he said the Legislature passed a bill to put more teeth in the state's efforts to combat that violence.

Perry's remarks came in an address to the Texas Municipal Police Association on Friday, July 10, 2009.

He said a new state law will fund some electronic monitoring of suspected gang members and open them up to lawsuits.

Perry told the group that if it were up the American Civil Liberties Union, the response would be "to hand out more milk and cookies."

Perry never mentioned his upcoming Republican primary race against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, but in a likely bid for law enforcement support he said he has a long history of working with the police association.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)