Gibson Guitars raided, Lacey Act cited

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  • level.eleven

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    May 12, 2009
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    The other day Fletch posted an article about a fish importer caught up in the ambiguous Lacey Act. Now, Gibson Guitars and other instrument manufactures are getting caught in the web by using certain types of wood. I find the story of the piano importer to the most interesting. A company wanted to import several antique pianos and sought the appropriate paperwork to import the grandfathered pianos. Instead of directing him to through the proper channels, the request set off an investigation. Some musicians are refusing to travel with their vintage guitars fearing they will be confiscated since they can't prove the origins of all the wood and components on their vintage guitars.

    While my guitar, gently weeps.

    Guitar Frets: Environmental Enforcement Leaves Musicians in Fear | Postmodern Times - WSJ.com
     

    jgreiner

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    Jul 13, 2011
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    The other day Fletch posted an article about a fish importer caught up in the ambiguous Lacey Act. Now, Gibson Guitars and other instrument manufactures are getting caught in the web by using certain types of wood. I find the story of the piano importer to the most interesting. A company wanted to import several antique pianos and sought the appropriate paperwork to import the grandfathered pianos. Instead of directing him to through the proper channels, the request set off an investigation. Some musicians are refusing to travel with their vintage guitars fearing they will be confiscated since they can't prove the origins of all the wood and components on their vintage guitars.

    While my guitar, gently weeps.

    Guitar Frets: Environmental Enforcement Leaves Musicians in Fear | Postmodern Times - WSJ.com

    We are rapidly becoming the "Peoples Republic of Obama".
     

    GBuck

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    IF it is clearly an old guitar wouldn't it be obvious that it is old enough to be grandfathered in? I've seen many vintage guitars.. It is obvious they are vintage.. Not to mention if it's a good brand most of them have the year printed on them somewhere.
     

    ViperJock

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    Feb 28, 2011
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    Fort Wayne-ish
    We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.— Ayn Rand

    Did you really think we want those laws observed? said Dr. Ferris. We want them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against... We're after power and we mean it... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be
    much easier to deal with. ('Atlas Shrugged' 1957) {WMail Issue #23}
     

    rbrthenderson

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    The Moon
    IF it is clearly an old guitar wouldn't it be obvious that it is old enough to be grandfathered in? I've seen many vintage guitars.. It is obvious they are vintage.. Not to mention if it's a good brand most of them have the year printed on them somewhere.

    Fender_Custom_Shop_Ultimate_Relic_63_Telecaster_R50516_1.jpg



    Believe it or not, this is a brand new guitar from the Fender Custom Shop! They're trying to capitalize on people's love for the vintage guitars and they're making new copies of old guitars that are very difficult to distinguish from actual vintage pieces...

    Most manufacturers put serial numbers on them to date them rather than stamping an actual date.
     

    level.eleven

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    They were raided in 2009, wood confiscated, but never charged...

    And again, in 2011, raided and confiscated...no charges. Quotes from the CEO indicate the feds aren't even telling him why the raid occurred. It is also important to note the changes made to the Lacey Act in 2008 to include the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act.
     

    level.eleven

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    These issues are addressed in the book, Three Felonies a Day. It is a look at the recent expansion of federal law and code and how their ambiguity can be applied at a prosecutors whim. Most involve paperwork compliance.

    [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Three-Felonies-Day-Target-Innocent/dp/1594032556]Amazon.com: Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent (9781594032554): Harvey A. Silverglate: Books[/ame]
     

    kwatters

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    Central Indiana
    From what I heard, they import wood from India, Indian law requires the wood be finished by Indians or export is illegal.
    Gibson broke no US laws, they merely want US workers to finish the wood in their products! The pres of Gibson says the government cost them 1 million shutting them down for a day and wants to keep them shut down during the investigation. Gibson is thumbing their nose at the Feds and starting up production again.
     
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