04/23/2026
He was 18… had his LTC… and still wasn’t carrying
I had a young guy come through one of my Texas LTC classes — 18 years old, working as a server at Texas Roadhouse.
Good kid.
Did everything right on paper.
Passed the class.
Passed the shooting test (first try).
Got his license.
But when we talked after…
He told me straight up:
“I don’t know if I’m actually ready to carry.”
That’s more common than people think.
So we started working together.
First thing we did wasn’t shooting —
it was figuring out what actually made sense for his life.
He’s on his feet all day
Moving constantly
Working around people
Needed something comfortable and discreet
He ended up with a G***k 43, and we set him up with a pocket carry setup that worked with his job.
We also talked through the real concerns:
Carrying at work
Walking to his car at night
What’s legal vs what’s smart
No guesswork. No YouTube advice.
Second session, he’s carrying daily —
unloaded at first, just getting used to it.
We worked dry fire.
Built consistency.
Got him comfortable.
That’s the part nobody talks about.
You can take a class…
You can get your LTC…
And still not feel ready to carry.
That’s the gap I focus on now.
Not just helping you pass a class —
but helping you actually live with it day to day.
If you’re in Texas and you’ve been thinking about carrying…
or you already have your LTC but haven’t started…
Comment “READY” or message me.
I’ll point you in the right direction.
— Phil Snyder
Texas LTC Training Academy
Retired Law Enforcement | 30+ Years