Feds to shut down concert season

[Katzndogz]

Confiscate the instruments.

Lawmakers are scrambling to save the summer concert season from federal agents poised to seize the instruments of rock and country stars because the wood used to make them may have been illegally harvested--and without their knowledge.

“I don’t want the musicians from Nashville who are flying to Canada to perform this summer to worry about the government seizing their guitars,” said Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander.

Feds threaten to disrupt summer concerts | Washington Examiner

This is pretty much what a totalitarian government looks like.

 

[The T]

In case folks missed the Genesis of your story...

From 2011:

Fed Raid Targets Guitars Made From Endangered Trees

 

[The T]

Confiscate the instruments.

Lawmakers are scrambling to save the summer concert season from federal agents poised to seize the instruments of rock and country stars because the wood used to make them may have been illegally harvested--and without their knowledge.

“I don’t want the musicians from Nashville who are flying to Canada to perform this summer to worry about the government seizing their guitars,” said Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander.

Feds threaten to disrupt summer concerts | Washington Examiner

This is pretty much what a totalitarian government looks like.

I agree. It's insanity.

 

[Mad Scientist]

You see what happens when a gov't attains too much power? They absolutely MUST use it SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE! On ANYBODY!

 

[BadJesus]

Why should musicians get a free pass on destroying the rain forest? Oh because they sing some stupid song. Please. Lock them up, throw them in jail, cut their hair and make them get a real job!

 

[The Rabbi]

This is simply a witch hunt to punish Gibson guitars and make their sales go down. The Obama-ites hate Gibson because Gibson moved from union-thug Michigan to union-free Tennessee so they could be profitable. So the Administration has targeted them. Note they are not going after Martin Guitars even though they use the same sources for their wood.
Personal vendettas fueled by politics is the signature of the Left. We can't vote these morons out fast enough.

 

[uscitizen]

Now I know why some call guitars Axes

 

[whitehall]

Libs really know how to gave a good time.

 

[daveman]

Libs really know how to gave a good time.

Yes -- by making sure no one else can.

 

[Inthemiddle]

What a bunch of morons you are. The article explicitly states that the federal government has no intention seizing the guitars, and it also states that federal lawmakers are getting involved in order to further guarantee that it doesn't happen. Yet the federal government, somehow, is being tyrannical.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

What a bunch of morons you are. The article explicitly states that the federal government has no intention seizing the guitars, and it also states that federal lawmakers are getting involved in order to further guarantee that it doesn't happen. Yet the federal government, somehow, is being tyrannical.

Correct, it's preventive maintenance, however the fact we are even having the discussion of its possibility in the United States of America speaks volumes.

 

[Inthemiddle]

Correct, it's preventive maintenance, however the fact we are even having the discussion of its possibility in the United States of America speaks volumes.

Speaks volumes about what? There is a law in place, there have been violations of that law, and various members of the federal government are now involved in ensuring that public policy will be set out to protect the integrity of the law while also protecting the interests of innocent citizens. If it speaks volumes about anything, its the fact that the USA is a great place to live.

 

[daveman]

What a bunch of morons you are. The article explicitly states that the federal government has no intention seizing the guitars, and it also states that federal lawmakers are getting involved in order to further guarantee that it doesn't happen. Yet the federal government, somehow, is being tyrannical.

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/201...ment-wants-us-to-just-shut-our-doors-go-away/

Juszkiewiz said the government suggested that the company’s use of unfinished wood from India is illegal, not because of U.S. law, but because of the Justice Department’s interpretation of a law in India.​

Since when does the US DoJ enforce foreign laws?

Since the company in question is in a right-to-work state, apparently.

Still More… Tom W. added this:

Gibson is the only guitar company targeted by the Obama DOJ under the
Lacey Act.

Tennessee is a right-to-work state.

Fender, Taylor, Rickenbacker, Danelectro, Carvin, MusicMan, and ESP
are in California;
Spector is in New York;
Martin is in Pennsylvania;
Guild, Ovation, and Hamer are in Connecticut;
Alvarez is in Missouri;
B.C. Rich is in Kentucky;
Heritage is in Michigan;
Washburn is in Illinois.

All are forced-union states.​

If what Gibson did is so awful, explain this:

Obama's War on Gibson Guitars Drags On - Gibson Guitar - Fox Nation

It was seven months ago that federal agents with guns drawn raided the Gibson guitar factories in Nashville and Memphis. A half million dollars worth of Indian
rosewood and ebony was seized under the premise that it had been imported illegally. The feds also took a number of guitars and computer hard drives. The factory was shut down for the day and employees told to go home.

Yet after all this time, the Department of Justice has shown no sign that it will file criminal charges against Gibson. What’s more – it has been almost 3 years since federal agents first raided Gibson (November 2009), seizing a quantity of wood from Madagascar. No decision on criminal charges in that case either.

Meantime, the DOJ has blocked a civil court case in which Gibson was appealing to get its wood back while the criminal investigation proceeds. Or doesn’t.

Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz complains that being in legal limbo with the federal government has had a profound effect on his business.​

This DoJ serves the leftist agenda -- not justice.

 

[daveman]

Correct, it's preventive maintenance, however the fact we are even having the discussion of its possibility in the United States of America speaks volumes.

Speaks volumes about what? There is a law in place, there have been violations of that law, and various members of the federal government are now involved in ensuring that public policy will be set out to protect the integrity of the law while also protecting the interests of innocent citizens. If it speaks volumes about anything, its the fact that the USA is a great place to live.

Unless you own or work for a company in a right-to-work state.

Why have none of the other instrument manufacturers been harassed?

Oh -- because they're union shops.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Correct, it's preventive maintenance, however the fact we are even having the discussion of its possibility in the United States of America speaks volumes.

Speaks volumes about what? There is a law in place

The law shouldn't exist in the first place, that's the point, and if you think this kind of nonsensical regulation over a few trees in Madagascar that turns non-threatening people into criminals is what makes the United States a great place to live then it's time to take off your jack boots, pull your head out of your ass, and start breathing some fresh air.

 

[Inthemiddle]

The law shouldn't exist in the first place, that's the point, and if you think this kind of nonsensical regulation over a few trees in Madagascar that turns non-threatening people into criminals is what makes the United States a great place to live then it's time to take off your jack boots, pull your head out of your ass, and start breathing some fresh air.

Why shouldn't the law exists? All it does is ensure that imports into the US do not violate the export laws of other countries. Why is that a bad thing? Why would we want the US to be a mecca of global black markets?

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

The law shouldn't exist in the first place, that's the point, and if you think this kind of nonsensical regulation over a few trees in Madagascar that turns non-threatening people into criminals is what makes the United States a great place to live then it's time to take off your jack boots, pull your head out of your ass, and start breathing some fresh air.

Why shouldn't the law exists? All it does is ensure that imports into the US do not violate the export laws of other countries. Why is that a bad thing? Why would we want the US to be a mecca of global black markets?

No law was being violated. You would know this, of course, were you up to speed on the topic.

 

[Rozman]

Why are they only shutting down white peoples concerts.
They don't seem to be going after the black rap artists....

I'm not sayin....I'm just sayin...

 

[Inthemiddle]

No law was being violated. You would know this, of course, were you up to speed on the topic.

Obviously you aren't up to speed on the topic. The wood used was illegally harvested. As such, importing and selling it in the US is a violation of the Lacey Act.

 

[The Rabbi]

No law was being violated. You would know this, of course, were you up to speed on the topic.

Obviously you aren't up to speed on the topic. The wood used was illegally harvested. As such, importing and selling it in the US is a violation of the Lacey Act.

Actually it wasn't. If you were up to speed on this you would know that. Actually if you weren't a total partisan hack moron you would know that.