My disappointment with the Obama administration runs very deep these days. While Obama’s Justice Department lets virtually every financial villain off the hook for the worse economic meltdown in our history, now the administration raids Gibson's guitar plants. Over what: wood!
On August 24th, government agents executed four search warrants on Gibson Guitar’s facilities in Nashville and Memphis, and seized several pallets of wood, electronic files and guitars. The raids forced Gibson to cease manufacturing operations and send workers home for the day while armed agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service executed the search warrants for ebony and rosewood that was imported from India.
The feds claim that Gibson violated the Lacey Act, which stipulates that a company cannot import wood in a manner that’s against the laws of the country the wood is coming from. However, Gibson has complied with Indian law and no concerns have been raised by the Indian government.
“Agents seized wood that was Forest Stewardship Council controlled,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson’s CEO. “Gibson has a long history of supporting sustainable and responsible sources of wood and has worked diligently with entities such as the Rainforest Alliance and Greenpeace to secure FSC-certified supplies. The wood seized on August 24 satisfied FSC standards.”
Juszkiewicz believes that the Justice Department is bullying Gibson without filing charges. This is the second time Gibson has been raided by the federal government (the first was in 2009), yet no charges have been filed and the materials confiscated on both occasions remain in federal hands.
Gibson needs help. Sign this petition, which asks that the current investigation of Gibson be stopped and brought to a fair and conclusive settlement; that the Lacey Act be amended to provide clear guidance on how corporations can comply; and to make sure that consumers (meaning guitar players and owners) will not be prosecuted for owning or transporting instruments for their own use.
In our dumbed down, economically deprived nation, very little matters much more anymore than music. Guitars enable that music and give pleasure to countless souls. Come on, Mr. President. Do things that matter and quit harassing the little guy! Go after the real criminals in our society.
