SOG: Prepare for the Unexpected
Posted on January 11, 2012 by Natalie in Interviews, Natalie's Blog
Steph tipped me off to the fact that there will be quite a few surprises on the next few episodes. I thought we would touch base with her and get the inside scoop. Here is the skinny:
NF: OK, there is a lot going on over at Red Jacket. Fill me in, sister!
SH: Yes, there is a lot happening. We are pretty excited. The first thing I want to let people know about is the contest we are doing. If you want to participate, you write in to Discovery with your idea for a gun build. We will look through all of them and decide on the winner. That person will have their gun idea built by the guys at Red Jacket for an episode.
Red Jacket is also going to be doing a contest of our own to give away a pair of tickets to the annual Birthday Bash, which is Will Hayden’s Birthday party. The winner gets meal tickets, ammo, and things like that. They are gonna get the works: hang out with the cast a bit and shoot all the guns- all that good fun stuff.
NF: Cool! When is that?
SH: Birthday Bash is the first weekend of June every year. It is very hot, but it’s worth it!
NF: That is super cool! The Birthday Bash is legendary. I have seen so many pictures of you guys having a ton of fun. People who go always talk about how much fun it is. How can people enter the contests?
SH: Keep your ear to the ground on that one. We are not announcing the details yet, but we want to make sure everyone knows that it is coming up very soon.
NF: Great – So let’s talk about the show. What on earth is going on? There are some rumors swirling and I need you to nail some of this stuff down for me.
SH: Right, so as far as the episodes go, they named the final episode ‘Wedlock and Load,’ which has had everyone kind of jumping 
on it and thinking that they know what is coming. It definitely gives the impression that something is kind of going on with me and Kris, but I mean… really?? Let’s put it this way, don’t you think that is a little fast? Marriage is not something you just jump into without thinking – you have to be absolutely certain. And that takes some time. So you have to wait to see what happens. You will really just have to hang on and keep your eyes open. You’ll find out soon enough!
NF: Wow! Sounds like there is a twist in there. What else can you tell us about it?
SH: There are some serious twists and turns through the next two episodes. You are going to be on the craziest roller coaster ride ever. And the moment that you think you have got it figured out or the moment that you think you know what happens, you are going to be totally blown away. Even in the beginning of next season – when this season ends and you think, “Ha! I knew this was going to happen.“ The beginning of next season is going to blow you away again. It totally knocks everything that you thought was final completely off the rails. It has been an interesting couple of months for us, really. You know, there is a lot that people think that they know about us because of spoiler alerts on the internet and all of that. Some of it is real and some of it is definitely not. There is a lot floating around and let’s just say that nobody has got a real clue of what is going on. They all think they know, but they really don’t.
There will be a lot of tense moments, but also some really happy, interesting moments, too. The guns that we have worked with in the last couple of episodes- the ones that they will be showing – were just incredible. The next episode actually shows you the weapon that I told you about when I said I finally shot something that scared me. I cant tell you what it is yet and I am just dying to share, which is one reason I will be with you, Nat, live on the Girl’s Guide to Guns facebook page answering questions so that we can talk about anything that anyone wants to know. I will be online to clear up any misconceptions or the way things came across to people. I just want to really reach out and kind of go over some of that stuff. Of course, I cant give away the next episode – I can’t give away spoilers, but I will do my best to answer all the questions.
NF: Cool- I am super excited about that. So…is it just me, or was this a really short, fast season?
SH: Good question- this season break is only going to be a month. We are breaking, but we are not breaking for long. It is a paperwork thing. They didn’t really want to break us but they kind of have to. We will right back on the air in February.
NF: Oh, good. We need our Sons of Guns fix!
Steph showing me the full auto suppressed 9mm
SH: You won’t be waiting too long. Also, we get a lot of remarks of people saying that they don’t want to see the show turn in to OCC or to become super drama- filled. But I definitely want people to keep in mind when they are watching these next couple of episodes that there is a lot of tension and there is a bit of drama, but it is not here to stay. We are all a family and family does go through really big things together. Sometimes it just happens – there is drama there. People get upset. People say things that they might not really mean. People react in ways that are completely out of their character when these things happen. Just stick with us and know that we are a family and we are going to do whatever it takes to push through at all times. No matter what happens. If something happens that upsets you, just understand that everything happens for a reason.
NF: Wow – I am officially intrigued! I will definitely have some questions lined up for you when you do the online interview this week. Now, I understand you guys are going to go on tour, too. What is the story there?
SH: Yep, we will be doing meet and greets at different Academy stores around the country. We have plans to do a full US tour and we are very excited to get out there and meet some people!
Sounds like some pretty exciting stuff all the way around! If you have questions of your own for Steph, you can ask her live on the Girl’s Guide to Guns facebook page on January 12 at 1pm Central time. You can also leave questions for her in the comments section below.
After reading about the not so honest or grey area of ownership, not sure if I’m going to continue to watch the show, dislike being lied to per say
OhFerCryinOutLoud! Dishonest? It was clearly a paperwork issue. No matter what, Red Jacket builds awesome guns and does amazing work! Who gives a rat’s butt about whose “ownership” it is? I’m sure that most of us die hard fans could care less.
A lot of us fans care. Just because you don’t doesn’t mean others feel the way you do, or can just brush it off. Yes, lied to. Just as he stated, the fan base was lied to. Every time I watch the show now I can’t help but feel like its a bunch of BS knowing that Steph and her father act like they own and run everything when they don’t. Especially when they state right at the beginning that “you need the proper licensing to do this”, which obviously Hayden and her don’t have any more.
Actually, through some friends who are in law enforcement and the fact that I own a gun store- the suspension of the Hayden’s FFL by the BATFE was only for a 6 month period because 10 registered firearms were missing from the shop which closed the shop only for 3 days (which is not that unusual in gun stores- all it takes is for a firearm to not be written down in the Log book and then be sold…yes the Yellow form for the sale is there, but according to ATF rules, if it was not put in the “Log Book” correctly, then that constitues a violation and grounds for suspension of the FFL temporarily..the BATFE is VERY picky on paperwork, you can have forgotten to cross your T’s or dot your I’s and they will suspend your license for a period of time, even if you were trying to be diligent and it was a complete accident). As of a current LE check (Jan 2012), the Hayden’s have their FFL reinstated, Vince and Joe also have FFL’s in their name as ‘back-ups’ so the shop never has to close because of a FFL suspension. When a company is formed and you apply for your FFL, you can list other people as “managers’ for the company even if they are not, all they have to be is listed on the FFL. So, yes, the Hayden’s own their company and Vince and Joe are employees, but do not have technical ownership and are NOT the bosses of Will and Stephanie. It is like in my gun store- I am the owner and founder of the company and have my own FFL, but my hired gunsmith who works for me, is listed as a manager for my company and he has his own FFL in case we have any paperwork violations and get our FFL suspended for a period of time, using my gunsmith’s FFL, we can still operate our store and sell firearms. Technically, Will and Stephanie did NOT lie to the fanbase, it is just the fanbase that has no knowledge or comprehension of how company status filed within a state works or how an FFL through the BATFE works. Before trashing people, you should educate yourself first.
It is still “Owned” by the Haydens. But the FFL is under a different name. The FFL owner isn’t necessarily the business owner. It’s who has the money, and runs the business.
Here’s a comment for Steph. I see what you go through with Will when it comes to your colored, adjustable AR idea. Does he ever discourage you? Please let him know that most girls don’t want manly looking guns but we still want to shoot. Love the show!!!
Steph do Vince and Kris get along a lot better than The show sometimes leads us to believe? Cuz I see Kris and Flem a lot closer. And also did Flem get his nickname because of his last name?
Flem is short for Flemming…His last name…
I hate for this to happen but Vince attitude has really gotten sour and it seems like nxt week he might get fired or on leave for a while
This article explains why Vince left the show. http://rphoto.me/wj888a – Vince himself on ar15.com also confirmed that he was the real owner of the show and that the father daughter are only employees (as they lost their licenses in 2009) Vince has now left the show and started his own company. Not sure how they will word this on the show, but I for one feel cheated that they made it look like he was the owner boss when Vince and other person actually held the firearms license.
Got an agenda, huh? You’re getting your “facts” from a publication that touts headlines about the Kardashians and Katy Perry’s bikini photos! Maybe you should wait until you hear the WHOLE story before you make public statements.
I’m sure that Red jacket has had their share of issues and drama…but that doesn’t change the reality that their guns speak for themselves. I’m sure that Vince is a great gunsmith as well, but he agreed to do this show…and then, for whatever reason, decided to leave it and attempt to make everyone else look bad. In my eyes, THAT was by far the worst of things.
“their guns speak for themselves”
yeh…. know how long pistons have been available for ARs?
decades… but RJF is going to corner the market on ‘em, open up a whole new sector…
hey!!! i innovated last week!!
i put a Tapco stock on my SKS…
i’m REVOLUTIONARY!!
(no, i didn’t put a tapco stock on my SKS… it’s a gorgeous unissued Yugo and i would NEVER desecrate a gorgeous weapon like that by turning it into a bubba gun…)
No, he’s talking about a site that may post about Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian but it’s still a reputable source that doesn’t go around posting false information. And honestly, from someone who knew about RJF BEFORE the show and has met them all in person BEFORE the show, I see why Vince left. Vince want’s to stay a true gunsmith and doesn’t want to end up being looked down upon like the guy’s at American Chopper. From season 1 of this show to now you can tell how mainstream they’ve gone with these stupid build’s nobody even remotely cares about.
Amen! Thank you for saying that! Obviously someone has an axe to grind!
Randy
I’m sure you have to know by now that all reality shows manipulate the truth of each moment to get the greatest effect for tv. And they were working under Vince’s license which doesn’t mean he ran the business.
What the SOG show never mentions is that most of the weaponry they show requires a Class III Federal Firearms License, which is expensive to get and requires a criminal background check.
Gregg,
That is probably because most people who are interested in shows like this are usually not idiots and realize that certain weapons are available to the military or law enforcement only. And the ones who don’t know were probably turned on to the show by people who do know the laws.
And if I am not mistaken, ALL firearms require a criminal background check.
Ok, once again I have to play FFL Explainer for the common folk-
Red Jacket Firearms holds a CLASS III Manufacturing license from the BATFE. It is a $3,000 license that has to be renewed every 3 years. This license allows Red Jacket to do the following:
1) sale of normal semi-auto rifles and handguns, and normal ammunition and firearm parts to regular folks who pass a background check
2) manufacture of ammuntion and armor-piercing rounds
3) manufacture of CLASS III weapons (full-auto machine guns)
4) manufacture of Destructive Devices (short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, surpressors/silencers, grenades and grenade launchers, anything that is over a .50 caliber, explosives, etc)
5) sale of CLASS III weapons, armor-piercing ammunition, Destructive Devices, etc. ONLY to other CLASS III Dealers, to Law Enforcement Departments (which is why cops have grenade launchers, suppressors, and full-auto AR-15s), and to the Military.
YOU as an individual cannot own a CLASS III full-auto weapon unless it is Pre-Ban, you passed the background check, have a CLASS III license (or a Curios & Relics licese from the BATFE).
AND YES, A BACKGROUND CHECK IS REQUIRED FOR EACH AND EVERY FIREARM PURCHASE ANY INDIVIDUAL MAKES IN ALL 50 STATES!
Not EVERY firearm. Muzzleloading firearms don’t require any paperwork.
Stephanie those garter belt gun holsters do you plan to have those on the market by June of 2013
Actually I believe only handguns and permits for concealed weapons require the background checks. Rifles and shotguns don’t. At least not in our state. However, they obviously state at the beginning of each episode to not try what they are doing at home as they are professionals, so it’s not like they’re leaving you with the impression you can go out and build military grade weapons in your spare time.
Actually, ALL states require a background check to purchase a longarm (rifle) or a handgun (pistol/revolver). It is a requirement by the BATFE that anyone wanting to purchase a gun, has to have a background check for criminal history.
What IS different in many states is the registration of the purchased firearm. Example- In Michigan, California, and many other states, if you are over 18 years old and pass the criminal background check, you may purchase a Longarm (rifle) and it is not registered (meaning a copy of the sale, your DL info, etc, is sent to the state police dept and to the BATFE for record keeping). But, if you are 21 and pass the background check and purchase a handgun (pistol/revolver), the Yellow Form as it is known in the gun community, that tracks the sale of the handgun, your DL info, is sent to the BATFE to keep on file forever. But yes, a mandatory background check for ciminal history must be performed before you can by a firearm in a gun store.
Oregon law does not require any background checks on private gun sales. However, if you purchase from a store or a gun show, you will be required to have one.
Thanks Sara, for the voice of knowledge and reason! Glad to have you here.