Gibson Guitars Settles With DoJ...

[IGetItAlready]

That sucks. I was hoping to get a Les Paul at a fed auction.

You better start with an Epiphone and work your way up. I think I have one lying around behind one of my mains that I'll sell you for $50.00

BTW, your analysis of what was going on sucks. They were importing exotic woods, without a license. It was pirate woods coming out of Madagascar that got them nailed. I bet you also like blood diamond trade.

That was the claim the feds made for their actions but it's simply NOT the case.
Gibson got their wood back, which btw was procured in full compliance with EPA regs and the tariff laws they were accused of skirting.

Already own a Gibson acoustic, a Guild dreadknot acoustic, a pre-CBS Fender Jag, and a Gibson ES 175, and a 1980 Ibanez Studio II, that I goosed up with DiMarzio Hot Rods. Love Gibson's products. They produce what I think is the sweetest neck out there. That doesn't exempt them from essentially using rare, exotic woods, without an import license.

Very Nice!!!
Had an Ibanez rg550 back in the day...would kill to have that unit back!
There were two "investigations" and that's all they were as there were never any formal charges filed, In the case of the wood Gibson imported from India, the government concedes that there was nothing wrong with Gibson's possessing it nor in the way the wood had been obtained. In the case of the Madagascar wood the fact that the feds were not willing to even press charges says plenty. Prove it was Madagascar Rosewood, prove the wood wasn't pre-ban stock and prove Gibson was negligent. They clearly weren't ready to do that. Meanwhile the feds threaten to shut down the Indian imports, essentially putting Gibson out of business and costing them millions more to fight.

Typical Obama DoJ strong arming.

 

[Dick Tuck]

First of all with such a collection, dont you feel guilty about all the poor people?

Second, we're talking about WOOD, it grows from trees. Is this old growth wood? is this magical wood?

Third Liberals like you complain about poor countries being poor, one reason is, they cant use the resources they have, because of environmental policies, so which is more important, the environment or poor people?

So you actually believe that stripping a resource is a good idea? You're an idiot. Ask the people who know what they're talking about, about the Pacific Yew, which was treated as junk wood, until it produced Taxol. Want to just strip down those puppies, and hang around for a 200 year harvest cycle, so women would have a double chance of survival from ovarian cancer.

You really are quite an intellectual lightweight.

Nope, I asked you a question, do countries have the right to control their resources? or are you going to dictate what they can and cant use, you sound like a fascist.
2nd these poor countries cant use their resource, what should they do?
So you're taking the environment over the poor folks? i'm not saying it's wrong, but I wanna keep that in the ole back pocket....it just might come in handy

Yes they do. Just as the United States has the right to control imports. If you look at countries like Brazil, you'll find the resource strippers, actually fucking over the poor. Do you not care that Brazil is trying to keep those resources sustainable.

Nope, I doubt you do. You're a whore. You could give a fuck how you leave this planet for the future generations, as long as you live as fat as you can.

Will Mitt Romney care about sustainability? You know he won't. That's why you're sucking his ass.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Gibson Guitar Corporation has agreed to pay $350,000 in penalties to settle federal charges that it illegally imported ebony Madagascar to use for fret boards, ending a criminal investigation that had drawn fire from conservatives as an example of over-reaching by the government, the Justice Department announced on Monday.

The guitar maker agreed to pay a $300,000 fine and to donate $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to promote the protection of endangered hardwood trees, like ebony and rosewood. In return, the government deferred prosecution of the company for criminal violations of the Lacey Act, which since May 2008 has made it illegal to import wood that was harvested and exported illegally under another country’s laws.

From the OP. Sooo, Gibson broke the law and settled by paying $350,000. Laws are laws. Why didn't they admit guilt and settle in the beginning rather than wasting $2.5 million to fight it?

Gibson did not break the law, the government alleged that they broke it, and extorted half a million dollars from them. This is money that is not going to be used by Gibson to make guitars, or anything else, This proves just how much Obama is worried about jobs.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a deal has been reached to drop the criminal case against Gibson Guitar Corp. after the instrument maker acknowledged its exotic wood imports violated environmental laws.

More: Gibson Guitar acknowledges exotic wood violation » Knoxville News Sentinel

What part of "acknowledges" don't you understand?

Interesting article, even if the title is directly contradicted in the story by Gibson not acknowledging anything.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Fearing Their Imports Would Be Ceased.

Gibson Settles...Feds Return Wood

“The alternative was pretty onerous,” he said. “We would have had to have gone to trial and we would have been precluded from buying wood from our major source country. For the ability to carry on with the business and remove this onerous Sword of Damocles, if you will, we feel this is about as good a settlement as we can get.”

This is a bunch of bullshit over Gibson importing Rosewood from India that the feds had at first said was required to be been made into finished finger boards in India rather than being imported raw for American workers to finish.

The feds busted into 3 Gibson factories with guns drawn, confiscated computer HDs and guitars and materials from the shops and when it's all said and done the feds admit there was nothing wrong with the Rosewood being imported the way Gibson had imported it, agreed to return the wood but charge the company a total of $350k in the settlement...which is on top of the $2.5 million the company has so far paid in fighting the feds.

Nearly $3 million that this one, great American company will now NOT be using to create jobs or expand operations.

That sucks. I was hoping to get a Les Paul at a fed auction.

BTW, your analysis of what was going on sucks. They were importing exotic woods, without a license. It was pirate woods coming out of Madagascar that got them nailed. I bet you also like blood diamond trade.

That is bullshit. They were importing exotic woods directly from government approved vendors in Madagascar. The issue the feds had is not that the wood was imported without a license, it was that the wood was that Gibson was going to finish it in the US. It seems that the government thinks it is better to support low paying jobs in Madagascar than it is to support high paying jobs in the US.

 

[buckeye45_73]

So you actually believe that stripping a resource is a good idea? You're an idiot. Ask the people who know what they're talking about, about the Pacific Yew, which was treated as junk wood, until it produced Taxol. Want to just strip down those puppies, and hang around for a 200 year harvest cycle, so women would have a double chance of survival from ovarian cancer.

You really are quite an intellectual lightweight.

Nope, I asked you a question, do countries have the right to control their resources? or are you going to dictate what they can and cant use, you sound like a fascist.
2nd these poor countries cant use their resource, what should they do?
So you're taking the environment over the poor folks? i'm not saying it's wrong, but I wanna keep that in the ole back pocket....it just might come in handy

Yes they do. Just as the United States has the right to control imports. If you look at countries like Brazil, you'll find the resource strippers, actually fucking over the poor. Do you not care that Brazil is trying to keep those resources sustainable.

Nope, I doubt you do. You're a whore. You could give a fuck how you leave this planet for the future generations, as long as you live as fat as you can.

Will Mitt Romney care about sustainability? You know he won't. That's why you're sucking his ass.

So I'm getting fat? really? so how much am I worth? Since you know so much. Sorry man, I'm just an average joe, not rich by any means. First I dont trust environmentalists, because they use that excuse to promote socialism. For eamples they dont like paper bags, but they dont like plastic bags, in other words they are never happy and content. Miserable people cause misery, and I dont like misery. I'm optimistic and see good, where you are pessimistic and see bad. Everything is a problem for you and you must solve it, because you are good and righteous (am I incorrect in this assumption?)

Ok, what is a resource stipper? I do believe in the ban on ivory for example, and some of the endangered species list I'm ok with, but when the government declares a wetland after a storm, I'm not ok with that. I'm not ok stopping constructions for a rare roach, I HATE roaches and if they can be extinct, I am all for it, animals will find other bugs to eat.

Now sustainability, Is the population too big, should we kill off some people, maybe another world war? Should we live in eco-communes and all be vegans? so you think they shouldnt make money with their resources, check. So you are going to save the planet, check. So you dont want to use any natural resources, or are there some we may use? do tell......

 

[Lakhota]

buckeye sounds like s/he may be carrying the pharmacy inventory home.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

I find it funny that liberals are the ones telling poor countries, not to use their resources. LOLOLOLOLOL

Gibson had two licenses from two Central American countries for those woods. This was poached wood. Like it or not, importing exotic woods requires a license. Not that you give a rats ass about a limited and rare commodity. I bet you'd buy blood diamonds.

You think the way this works is you make up facts in an attempt to make people look stupid? Sorry, I don't work that way. There is no requirement to obtain a license to import exotic woods from Madagascar, so it does not matter if Gibson did not have a license to import from Madagascar, or India, which is where some of the wood came from. The settlement does not require Gibson to get a non existent license in order to continue importing wood. Gibson is required to train their personnel to do the government's job by double checking their legitimate suppliers to make sure they are checking the source of the wood they are purchasing.

By the way, I got that info from a blog that actually supports the government action in this case. I am interpreting the post slightly different than they wanted, but I am a lot more cynical than they are.

Gibson Guitar Logging Bust Demonstrates Lacey Act

 

[Dick Tuck]

You better start with an Epiphone and work your way up. I think I have one lying around behind one of my mains that I'll sell you for $50.00



That was the claim the feds made for their actions but it's simply NOT the case.
Gibson got their wood back, which btw was procured in full compliance with EPA regs and the tariff laws they were accused of skirting.

Already own a Gibson acoustic, a Guild dreadknot acoustic, a pre-CBS Fender Jag, and a Gibson ES 175, and a 1980 Ibanez Studio II, that I goosed up with DiMarzio Hot Rods. Love Gibson's products. They produce what I think is the sweetest neck out there. That doesn't exempt them from essentially using rare, exotic woods, without an import license.

Very Nice!!!
Had an Ibanez rg550 back in the day...would kill to have that unit back!
There were two "investigations" and that's all they were as there were never any formal charges filed, In the case of the wood Gibson imported from India, the government concedes that there was nothing wrong with Gibson's possessing it nor in the way the wood had been obtained. In the case of the Madagascar wood the fact that the feds were not willing to even press charges says plenty. Prove it was Madagascar Rosewood, prove the wood wasn't pre-ban stock and prove Gibson was negligent. They clearly weren't ready to do that. Meanwhile the feds threaten to shut down the Indian imports, essentially putting Gibson out of business and costing them millions more to fight.

Typical Obama DoJ strong arming.

What's so hard about it? If you import rare and exottic wood, you need a license. This way our great grandkids can enjoy a sweet neck. To me it's a no-brainer. You can only import rare and exotic wood from countries that are certified to have sustainable tree harvesting. I saw this case as it was unfolding over a year ago. Gibson, at the time, tried to blame it all on a contractor. I have no problem with the government demanding import licensing for these rare commodities.

Yeah, I love my Ibanez. That's the one that I usually keep on the stand next to the PC. Nice light solid body profile, plays well, and plugs right into the little Line 6 on the PC. It's fun to jam in the middle of the night without having someone calling the cops.

Don't see how I'd lay this on Obama's DOJ. These laws have been on the books long before Obama was even in office.

 

[buckeye45_73]

Already own a Gibson acoustic, a Guild dreadknot acoustic, a pre-CBS Fender Jag, and a Gibson ES 175, and a 1980 Ibanez Studio II, that I goosed up with DiMarzio Hot Rods. Love Gibson's products. They produce what I think is the sweetest neck out there. That doesn't exempt them from essentially using rare, exotic woods, without an import license.

Very Nice!!!
Had an Ibanez rg550 back in the day...would kill to have that unit back!
There were two "investigations" and that's all they were as there were never any formal charges filed, In the case of the wood Gibson imported from India, the government concedes that there was nothing wrong with Gibson's possessing it nor in the way the wood had been obtained. In the case of the Madagascar wood the fact that the feds were not willing to even press charges says plenty. Prove it was Madagascar Rosewood, prove the wood wasn't pre-ban stock and prove Gibson was negligent. They clearly weren't ready to do that. Meanwhile the feds threaten to shut down the Indian imports, essentially putting Gibson out of business and costing them millions more to fight.

Typical Obama DoJ strong arming.

What's so hard about it? If you import rare and exottic wood, you need a license. This way our great grandkids can enjoy a sweet neck. To me it's a no-brainer. You can only import rare and exotic wood from countries that are certified to have sustainable tree harvesting. I saw this case as it was unfolding over a year ago. Gibson, at the time, tried to blame it all on a contractor. I have no problem with the government demanding import licensing for these rare commodities.

Yeah, I love my Ibanez. That's the one that I usually keep on the stand next to the PC. Nice light solid body profile, plays well, and plugs right into the little Line 6 on the PC. It's fun to jam in the middle of the night without having someone calling the cops.

Don't see how I'd lay this on Obama's DOJ. These laws have been on the books long before Obama was even in office.

What you disagree with the DOJ....come on, who are you trying to fool. Holder could shoot someone in front of you and you'd defend him.

 

[buckeye45_73]

buckeye sounds like s/he may be carrying the pharmacy inventory home.

Yeah Rebif and humira really get you off, oh wait we dispense exjade and forteo as well !!!!!!!!!!!another "no clue" post

 

[Dick Tuck]

Gibson Guitar Corporation has agreed to pay $350,000 in penalties to settle federal charges that it illegally imported ebony Madagascar to use for fret boards, ending a criminal investigation that had drawn fire from conservatives as an example of over-reaching by the government, the Justice Department announced on Monday.

The guitar maker agreed to pay a $300,000 fine and to donate $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to promote the protection of endangered hardwood trees, like ebony and rosewood. In return, the government deferred prosecution of the company for criminal violations of the Lacey Act, which since May 2008 has made it illegal to import wood that was harvested and exported illegally under another country’s laws.

From the OP. Sooo, Gibson broke the law and settled by paying $350,000. Laws are laws. Why didn't they admit guilt and settle in the beginning rather than wasting $2.5 million to fight it?

Gibson did not break the law, the government alleged that they broke it, and extorted half a million dollars from them. This is money that is not going to be used by Gibson to make guitars, or anything else, This proves just how much Obama is worried about jobs.

That's Gibson's claim. The government's claim is they were were importing rare and exotic wood without an import license. So they settled, and Gibson claimed they didn't really break any law. How hard is it? When you import exotic and rare wood, you need a license, and the only licenses granted are to countries that have sustainable harvesting. Nothing to me seems unreasonable about that.

 

[daveman]

Gibson Guitar Corporation has agreed to pay $350,000 in penalties to settle federal charges that it illegally imported ebony Madagascar to use for fret boards, ending a criminal investigation that had drawn fire from conservatives as an example of over-reaching by the government, the Justice Department announced on Monday.

The guitar maker agreed to pay a $300,000 fine and to donate $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to promote the protection of endangered hardwood trees, like ebony and rosewood. In return, the government deferred prosecution of the company for criminal violations of the Lacey Act, which since May 2008 has made it illegal to import wood that was harvested and exported illegally under another country’s laws.

From the OP. Sooo, Gibson broke the law and settled by paying $350,000. Laws are laws. Why didn't they admit guilt and settle in the beginning rather than wasting $2.5 million to fight it?

Why wasn't Martin Guitars raided? They use the same wood as Gibson.

Oh, yes, this is why:

It’s worth pointing out that Henry E. Juszkiewicz, Gibson’s Chief Executive Officer, is a donor to a couple of Republican politicians. According to the Open Secrets database, Juszkiewicz donated $2000 to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN07) last year, as well as $1500 to Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Juszkiewicz also has donated $10,000 to the Consumer Electronics Association, a PAC that contributed $92.5k to Republican candidates last year, as opposed to $72k to Democrats. (The CEA did, however, contribute more to Democrats in the 2008 election cycle.)

When warrants as ridiculous such as these are issued and executed, there appears no other reason than because the company or individual at hand is being targeted, not because there is any sort of wrongdoing. As a company, Gibson is a legendary. They’ve done nothing wrong, except, apparently, deigning to have a Republican CEO.

The plot thickens, however.

One of Gibson’s leading competitors is C.F. Martin & Company. The C.E.O., Chris Martin IV, is a long-time Democratic supporter, with $35,400 in contributions to Democratic candidates and the DNC over the past couple of election cycles. According to C.F. Martin’s catalog, several of their guitars contain “East Indian Rosewood.” In case you were wondering, that is the exact same wood in at least ten of Gibson’s guitars.​

Plus, Gibson is a non-union shop. Martin is union.

 

[daveman]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a deal has been reached to drop the criminal case against Gibson Guitar Corp. after the instrument maker acknowledged its exotic wood imports violated environmental laws.

More: Gibson Guitar acknowledges exotic wood violation » Knoxville News Sentinel

What part of "acknowledges" don't you understand?

No charges were ever filed. So no law was broken. Even Madagascar says the import was legal:

• Wood seized was verified as FSC® Controlled Wood according to the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®) Controlled Wood requirements
The wood the Government seized on August 24 is from a Forest Stewardship Council™ certified supplier and was received as FSC® Controlled Wood, meaning that the wood conforms with the FSC Controlled Wood Standards of the Forest Stewardship Council™, which is an industry-recognized and independent, not-for-profit organization established to promote responsible management of the world's forests. FSC® Controlled Wood standards require, among other things, that the wood not be illegally harvested and not be harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights. See FSC Forest Stewardship Council ® · Home for more information. 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 was evaluated to FSC® Chain of Custody Standards.

• Nearly two years later, no charges have been filed
In 2009, more than a dozen agents with automatic weapons invaded the Gibson factory in Nashville. The Government seized guitars and a substantial amount of ebony fingerboard blanks from Madagascar. To date, 1 year and 9 months later, criminal charges have NOT been filed, yet the Government still holds Gibson's property. Gibson has obtained sworn statements and documents from the Madagascar government and these materials, which have been filed in federal court, show that the wood seized in 2009 was legally exported under Madagascar law and that no law has been violated. Gibson is attempting to have its property returned in a civil proceeding that is pending in federal court.​

 

[daveman]

Fearing Their Imports Would Be Ceased.

Gibson Settles...Feds Return Wood

“The alternative was pretty onerous,” he said. “We would have had to have gone to trial and we would have been precluded from buying wood from our major source country. For the ability to carry on with the business and remove this onerous Sword of Damocles, if you will, we feel this is about as good a settlement as we can get.”

This is a bunch of bullshit over Gibson importing Rosewood from India that the feds had at first said was required to be been made into finished finger boards in India rather than being imported raw for American workers to finish.

The feds busted into 3 Gibson factories with guns drawn, confiscated computer HDs and guitars and materials from the shops and when it's all said and done the feds admit there was nothing wrong with the Rosewood being imported the way Gibson had imported it, agreed to return the wood but charge the company a total of $350k in the settlement...which is on top of the $2.5 million the company has so far paid in fighting the feds.

Nearly $3 million that this one, great American company will now NOT be using to create jobs or expand operations.

That sucks. I was hoping to get a Les Paul at a fed auction.

BTW, your analysis of what was going on sucks. They were importing exotic woods, without a license. It was pirate woods coming out of Madagascar that got them nailed. I bet you also like blood diamond trade.

You're a liar.

• Wood seized was verified as FSC® Controlled Wood according to the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®) Controlled Wood requirements
The wood the Government seized on August 24 is from a Forest Stewardship Council™ certified supplier and was received as FSC® Controlled Wood, meaning that the wood conforms with the FSC Controlled Wood Standards of the Forest Stewardship Council™, which is an industry-recognized and independent, not-for-profit organization established to promote responsible management of the world's forests. FSC® Controlled Wood standards require, among other things, that the wood not be illegally harvested and not be harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights. See FSC Forest Stewardship Council ® · Home for more information. 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 was evaluated to FSC® Chain of Custody Standards.

• Nearly two years later, no charges have been filed
In 2009, more than a dozen agents with automatic weapons invaded the Gibson factory in Nashville. The Government seized guitars and a substantial amount of ebony fingerboard blanks from Madagascar. To date, 1 year and 9 months later, criminal charges have NOT been filed, yet the Government still holds Gibson's property. Gibson has obtained sworn statements and documents from the Madagascar government and these materials, which have been filed in federal court, show that the wood seized in 2009 was legally exported under Madagascar law and that no law has been violated. Gibson is attempting to have its property returned in a civil proceeding that is pending in federal court.​

 

[jillian]

Fearing Their Imports Would Be Ceased.

Gibson Settles...Feds Return Wood

“The alternative was pretty onerous,” he said. “We would have had to have gone to trial and we would have been precluded from buying wood from our major source country. For the ability to carry on with the business and remove this onerous Sword of Damocles, if you will, we feel this is about as good a settlement as we can get.”

This is a bunch of bullshit over Gibson importing Rosewood from India that the feds had at first said was required to be been made into finished finger boards in India rather than being imported raw for American workers to finish.

The feds busted into 3 Gibson factories with guns drawn, confiscated computer HDs and guitars and materials from the shops and when it's all said and done the feds admit there was nothing wrong with the Rosewood being imported the way Gibson had imported it, agreed to return the wood but charge the company a total of $350k in the settlement...which is on top of the $2.5 million the company has so far paid in fighting the feds.

Nearly $3 million that this one, great American company will now NOT be using to create jobs or expand operations.

you think laws are optional?

the reason the money isn't there is they thought they could do what they wanted to.

that's personal responsibility for their actions.

 

[daveman]

Fearing Their Imports Would Be Ceased.

Gibson Settles...Feds Return Wood

“The alternative was pretty onerous,” he said. “We would have had to have gone to trial and we would have been precluded from buying wood from our major source country. For the ability to carry on with the business and remove this onerous Sword of Damocles, if you will, we feel this is about as good a settlement as we can get.”

This is a bunch of bullshit over Gibson importing Rosewood from India that the feds had at first said was required to be been made into finished finger boards in India rather than being imported raw for American workers to finish.

The feds busted into 3 Gibson factories with guns drawn, confiscated computer HDs and guitars and materials from the shops and when it's all said and done the feds admit there was nothing wrong with the Rosewood being imported the way Gibson had imported it, agreed to return the wood but charge the company a total of $350k in the settlement...which is on top of the $2.5 million the company has so far paid in fighting the feds.

Nearly $3 million that this one, great American company will now NOT be using to create jobs or expand operations.

you think laws are optional?

the reason the money isn't there is they thought they could do what they wanted to.

that's personal responsibility for their actions.

Why wasn't Martin Guitars, who bought the same wood, charged?

For that matter, why wasn't Gibson charged? Usually when a law is broken, charges are filed.

 

[jillian]

Fearing Their Imports Would Be Ceased.

Gibson Settles...Feds Return Wood



This is a bunch of bullshit over Gibson importing Rosewood from India that the feds had at first said was required to be been made into finished finger boards in India rather than being imported raw for American workers to finish.

The feds busted into 3 Gibson factories with guns drawn, confiscated computer HDs and guitars and materials from the shops and when it's all said and done the feds admit there was nothing wrong with the Rosewood being imported the way Gibson had imported it, agreed to return the wood but charge the company a total of $350k in the settlement...which is on top of the $2.5 million the company has so far paid in fighting the feds.

Nearly $3 million that this one, great American company will now NOT be using to create jobs or expand operations.

you think laws are optional?

the reason the money isn't there is they thought they could do what they wanted to.

that's personal responsibility for their actions.

Why wasn't Martin Guitars, who bought the same wood, charged?

For that matter, why wasn't Gibson charged? Usually when a law is broken, charges are filed.

you know they settled and paid fines, right?

 

[Mr. H.]

After all this, Liberals will still want more Biden and les Paul.

 

[Dick Tuck]

Gibson Guitar Corporation has agreed to pay $350,000 in penalties to settle federal charges that it illegally imported ebony Madagascar to use for fret boards, ending a criminal investigation that had drawn fire from conservatives as an example of over-reaching by the government, the Justice Department announced on Monday.

The guitar maker agreed to pay a $300,000 fine and to donate $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to promote the protection of endangered hardwood trees, like ebony and rosewood. In return, the government deferred prosecution of the company for criminal violations of the Lacey Act, which since May 2008 has made it illegal to import wood that was harvested and exported illegally under another country’s laws.

From the OP. Sooo, Gibson broke the law and settled by paying $350,000. Laws are laws. Why didn't they admit guilt and settle in the beginning rather than wasting $2.5 million to fight it?

Why wasn't Martin Guitars raided? They use the same wood as Gibson.

Oh, yes, this is why:

It’s worth pointing out that Henry E. Juszkiewicz, Gibson’s Chief Executive Officer, is a donor to a couple of Republican politicians. According to the Open Secrets database, Juszkiewicz donated $2000 to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN07) last year, as well as $1500 to Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Juszkiewicz also has donated $10,000 to the Consumer Electronics Association, a PAC that contributed $92.5k to Republican candidates last year, as opposed to $72k to Democrats. (The CEA did, however, contribute more to Democrats in the 2008 election cycle.)

When warrants as ridiculous such as these are issued and executed, there appears no other reason than because the company or individual at hand is being targeted, not because there is any sort of wrongdoing. As a company, Gibson is a legendary. They’ve done nothing wrong, except, apparently, deigning to have a Republican CEO.

The plot thickens, however.

One of Gibson’s leading competitors is C.F. Martin & Company. The C.E.O., Chris Martin IV, is a long-time Democratic supporter, with $35,400 in contributions to Democratic candidates and the DNC over the past couple of election cycles. According to C.F. Martin’s catalog, several of their guitars contain “East Indian Rosewood.” In case you were wondering, that is the exact same wood in at least ten of Gibson’s guitars.​

Plus, Gibson is a non-union shop. Martin is union.

Daveman, did Martin have a license for the import? Was it wood from a sustainable system? Was it poached? Do you know the answers? I doubt it. Do yourself a favor and learn the facts, from all sides, before making such a tin foil post.