Gibson Wood Raid

[Muzikman7]

This is crazy: http://freepatriot.org/2013/11/26/watch-judge-napolitano-exposes-real-reason-gibson-guitar-raided-feds/

[Granny Gremlin]

As much as I have to admit that there is a distinct possibility that there's some underhandedness going on here, the mere fact that Martin was not also raided proves little (maybe they had their paperwork in better order).  If they're investigating the issue then I am satisfied for the moment; we'll see how that goes.

Remember also that, as much as barging in with automatic firearms drawn and full SWAT gear sounds silly and overbearing, this is exactly what all regulatory agencies do whenever they raid (see also raids on organic food producers/supermarkets whose produce doesn't meed FDA guidelines; such as unpasteurized milk).  Yes it makes no sense and looks like insane overkill, but if anything it is part of a general trend of militarisation going on throughout all departments vs a specific punishment to opposition supporters; it's been going on under the watch of both parties; that's how they do it now.

[uwe]

The Grand Wizard of the KKK has also deemed the raid unconstitutional so it no doubt must be.

Lest we forget:

- Henry J. was not the staunch Republican supporter pre-raid he conveniently painted himself as post-raid. Gibson's donations were piss-poor and they also donated to Democratic candidates. Even this guy they call "Hussein Obama" received a guitar from Gibson, perhaps they mistook him for a Republican or didn't know that he would only be playing Al Qaeda folk songs on it (with the frets yanked out for all those mandatory quarter-notes   ). Moreover his beast of a wife gave a Gibson guitar to the French President's wife, Carla Bruni, I have little doubt how that was stolen too from Nashville.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20270172,00.html

- Martin had refused wood suppliers as fishy that Gibson had deemed ok.

- Guess how the German police looked when they raided Deutsche Bank last Christmas for alleged tax fraud, obstruction of justice, interbank-rates-fixing etc.?



They even took the inhouse counsel to jail for a few days (a couple of days before Christmas Eve, very effective and a great didactic learning experience). It's what government organisations do all around the world if they have the feeling of not being taken seriously.

- So the wood has not been returned? That alone is clear evidence that importing it into the US was ok. The Federal Government Behemoth steals wood from Gibson. Do watch this space for new furniture deliveries to the Oval Office.



"Michelle-honey? You have no idea what a cool new office desk I just got, made from precious Republican rosewood with Tea Party ebony inlays ..."

[Dave W]

I have much the same to say as Uwe.

I have a lot of respect for Judge Napolitano's views on the constitution and civil liberties, but he's dead wrong here on the facts.

1. The raid wasn't authorized by DOJ; they didn't get involved until after the raid. it was done because Fish & Wildlife found contraband wood in a shipment. And F&W didn't even know Gibson was involved at first since Gibson's name wasn't on the shipment even though it should have been since it was the final destination.

2. Henry J. and Gibson had never been big Republican donors, they gave small donations to both Republican and Democratic candidates.

3. Luthiers Mercantile (LMI), who was listed as the importer, was raided, too. They have no connection to Republican politics. They had more wood taken than Gibson did.

4. C. F. Martin wasn't raided because they didn't do what Gibson did. Indian Rosewood is a species, it doesn't necessarily come from India, and Martin has years of wood inventory anyway.

5. Gibson continued to do this despite warnings after previously being caught in that 2009 raid. Martin and others in the business warned against this.


Personal opinion here: there was no "mistake" about the wood. It was classified as veneer to evade India's 5-year export moratorium, which exempted veneer. If you think it was an innocent mistake, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

FWIW, Gibson not only admitted fault, the rosewood boards they are using now are laminated from sheets of veneer. Other companies continue to use non-laminated Indian rosewood boards they got legitimately.





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[Dave W]

BTW, there was no SWAT gear and there were no guns drawn. The raid was conducted by agents who carry sidearms.

In any case, Gibson agreed to a settlement in which they admitted wrongdoing.

[Pilgrim]

This is typical of advocacy/political websites of this nature - take a base of fact, add layers of distortion and flat-out lies, and then blame it on whichever party you happen to dislike. While at this, be careful to omit any facts (no matter how important) that would detract from the overall impression you are creating.

Please note that nothing in the two sentences above is specific to either party.  It bothers me when people do this...and it also bothers me that so many people are ready to believe a set of lies and half-truths because they are so prepared to believe something bad about "the other side".

[uwe]

I've said this before: By today's standards Gibson either doesn't have a compliance department to speak of or they do an appalling job. No excuses there at all. An international company and name brand can't afford to have something like this happen.

[uwe]

To make this thread less partisan  :



The guy with the Soprano hat singing is (thankfully) Derek St. Holmes (again), smartest move Uncle Ted has made in a long time.

[Granny Gremlin]

BTW, there was no SWAT gear and there were no guns drawn. The raid was conducted by agents who carry sidearms.

That's the most surprising thing about this whole case then.