FFL Gunsmith in Live Oak Refuses Ghost Gun Work

Live Oak Gunsmith Launches With FFL License and Formal Ghost Gun Refusal Policy

Live Oak, United States – May 2, 2026 / RTF3TX Gunsmithing /

RTF3TX Gunsmithing, a Live Oak, Texas-based firearms service operation founded by U.S. Army veteran Roland Lamothe, has announced the launch of its full-service gunsmithing practice under Federal Firearms License (FFL) authorization. The shop is positioned as a licensed, standards-driven resource for law enforcement agencies, veterans, and civilian gun owners across the San Antonio metropolitan area.

A Veteran’s Discipline Applied to Civilian Gunsmithing

Lamothe served with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment of the U.S. Army before entering the firearms industry. Rather than learning gunsmithing informally, he pursued formal credentialing through the American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI), earning its Master Gunsmith designation – a distinction requiring demonstrated competency across multiple firearm platforms, safety protocols, and technical repair disciplines.

That decision was deliberate. As an AGI certified gunsmith San Antonio clients can verify through credentialing records, Lamothe founded RTF3TX on the principle that professional accountability is inseparable from technical skill. The shop operates according to NSTF safety standards gunsmith guidelines, which define specific benchmarks for safe handling, repair documentation, and operational conduct within a licensed facility.

RTF3TX holds a current Federal Firearms License, a legal requirement for any business engaged in the manufacture, transfer, or servicing of firearms at a commercial level. That licensing status places the operation under federal compliance obligations that unregulated or informal gunsmiths do not face.

Clear Position on Ghost Guns and Unregulated Builds

A defining element of RTF3TX’s public launch is its formal articulation of a ghost gun policy Texas gun owners and law enforcement professionals can reference directly. Ghost guns – unserialized firearms assembled outside of licensed manufacturing channels – have drawn increasing scrutiny from federal regulators and local law enforcement agencies in recent years.

RTF3TX does not service, accept, or facilitate work on unserialized or illegally assembled firearms. Lamothe structured that position into the shop’s operating policy from the outset – not as a response to external pressure, but as a direct extension of the standards he upheld during military service.

“When I built RTF3TX, I made the decision that this shop would operate the same way I operated in uniform – with clear rules of engagement and no gray areas,” said Roland Lamothe, Founder and Master Gunsmith of RTF3TX Gunsmithing. “The AGI Master Certification took years of documented work across more than 12 firearm platforms. That credential exists so clients – whether they are law enforcement or a first-time gun owner – know exactly who they are handing their firearm to.”

Serving Law Enforcement, Veterans, and Responsible Owners

RTF3TX’s client base reflects the range of firearms users operating in and around San Antonio, one of the largest military and law enforcement population centers in Texas. Services include diagnostic inspections, trigger work, barrel fitting, stock modifications, and compliance-related assessments for duty weapons.

Law enforcement personnel represent a specific segment of the shop’s clientele. Service weapons require documented maintenance histories and must meet department specifications following any gunsmith work. RTF3TX’s FFL status and adherence to NSTF safety standards gunsmith protocols support that documentation chain.

Veterans are another core community the shop serves. Many returning service members carry deep familiarity with military-pattern rifles and seek civilian gunsmiths who understand those platforms without requiring extensive background explanation. Lamothe’s service with the 3rd Cavalry provides that context directly.

RTF3TX and the Broader Standard for Licensed Gunsmithing

The formal launch of RTF3TX comes at a time when regulatory scrutiny of unlicensed firearms work is increasing at both state and federal levels. Texas has seen sustained legislative and law enforcement attention directed at unregulated firearm modifications and assembly. Against that backdrop, the shop’s FFL compliance, its documented ghost gun policy Texas law enforcement agencies can reference, and Lamothe’s standing as an AGI certified gunsmith San Antonio area residents can verify represent a measurable operational standard.

RTF3TX Gunsmithing is located in Live Oak, Texas, within the San Antonio metropolitan area. The operation accepts appointments from individual gun owners, veterans organizations, and law enforcement personnel requiring documented gunsmith services on personally owned and duty firearms.

About RTF3TX Gunsmithing

RTF3TX Gunsmithing is a veteran-owned, FFL-licensed gunsmithing operation based in Live Oak, Texas, founded by Roland Lamothe, a former 3rd Cavalry U.S. Army soldier and AGI Master Certified Gunsmith. The shop provides firearms inspection, repair, and modification services to law enforcement professionals, military veterans, and civilian gun owners in the San Antonio area. RTF3TX operates under NSTF safety standards and maintains a formal policy declining service on unserialized or illegally assembled firearms.

Learn more at RTF3TX Gunsmithing