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Gibson Guitar Corp. Responds to Federal Raid (Claims DOJ wants wood finished in India)
Gibson.Com ^ | August 25, 2011

Posted on 08/27/2011 6:58:18 AM PDT by PJ-Comix

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To: PJ-Comix; All
There's another thread at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2769746/posts

The observation there is that one of Gibson's competitors, C.F. Martin & Co. also makes guitars from the same "East Indian Rosewood." The differences are: 1) C.F. Martin & Co has a factory in Nazareth, PA (not a right to work state), and 2) Mr. Chris Martin IV is a big donor to Democrats.

Where Gibson operates in Tennessee (a right to work state) and Henry Juszkiewicz donates to Republican candidates.

61 posted on 08/27/2011 12:46:43 PM PDT by cc2k ( If having an "R" makes you conservative, does walking into a barn make you a horse's (_*_)?)
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To: chaosagent; SumProVita
For the sake of assumption only, if it is true that Gibson legally received the wood, and it was cleared by Indian and US authorities, and was legal for Gibson to possess and use in manufacture then Gibson's attorneys need to request an investigation by a Federal Grand Jury, and a criminal complaint against the agents for violation of civil rights under color of authority. In essence, they need to request a civil rights investigation by the DOJ. A civil lawsuit should follow soon.

I am aware that if a search warrant is obtained then there are immunities granted to the police. However, if there were false representations, and the police KNEW they were false, then they can lose an immunity defense because lying in a search warrant is not within the scope of their duties.

62 posted on 08/27/2011 1:07:45 PM PDT by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: Yardstick
Gibson has failed to pay danegeld to the Democrats, that is the root cause of the raid!
63 posted on 08/27/2011 1:30:14 PM PDT by W. W. SMITH (Islam is an instrument of enslavement)
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To: PJ-Comix
So the Obama administration wants manufacturing work to be done overseas?

I guess he figures better overseas than a red state.

ION (Impeach Obama Now)

64 posted on 08/27/2011 1:57:19 PM PDT by Tribune7 (If you demand perfection you will wind up with leftist Democrats)
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To: Enterprise

I believe they are already suing to recover property confiscated in a previous incident.


65 posted on 08/27/2011 2:07:42 PM PDT by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified Decartes))
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To: PJ-Comix

Lest there be any doubt that government lawyers are the commissars of American-style Socialism!

This sort of action displays the evil naked heart of the modern State, and its dark desire to kill what it cannot control.


66 posted on 08/27/2011 2:17:51 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism - "Who-whom?")
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To: SumProVita

I think that there has been sufficient time for the Government to have filed charges regarding the prior incident. Having not done so, one would expect that Gibson’s lawyers would certainly ask that the case be dismissed, that the property be returned, and a return of the property in the latest raid, and that a restraining order against the DOJ be granted to Gibson preventing the DOJ from any further seizures unless the DOJ can clearly demonstrate that a prosecutable law has been violated.


67 posted on 08/27/2011 4:01:23 PM PDT by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: Enterprise

.out of convenience, I picked your post to respond to

..........to bring maximum publicity to the communists running the justice department and their leader Obama, let’s promote Sarah holding a rally at the Gibson Plant.................or several...............she could talk to some of the laid off workers................


68 posted on 08/27/2011 4:33:05 PM PDT by Cen-Tejas (it's the debt bomb stupid!)
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To: PJ-Comix

The sooner we throw all these federal goons out on their ears the better.


69 posted on 08/27/2011 4:34:56 PM PDT by aruanan
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To: PJ-Comix
A functional link.
70 posted on 08/27/2011 4:36:36 PM PDT by aruanan
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To: Gena Bukin
This wasn't the first raid.

From the full press release:
• 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.

The Justice Department has asked the judge to stop the court case indefinitely.

• Information sought in raid was already made available
Since 2009, Gibson has fully cooperated with the Government’s investigation of wood and has provided substantial documentation regarding Gibson’s wood-buying activities over the years. Yet, the Federal Government raided Gibson’s facilities on August 24, 2011, without warning or communication of any kind. Had the Government simply communicated with Gibson, Gibson would have cooperated without having to stop its production and send workers home.

• Not about illegal logging, not about conservation, not about the environment
The U.S. Lacey Act does not directly address conservation issues but is about obeying all laws of the countries from which wood products are procured. This law reads that you are guilty if you did not observe a law even though you had no knowledge of that law in a foreign country. The U.S. Lacey Act is only applicable when a foreign law has been violated.

• Gibson is innocent and will fight to protect its rights
Gibson has complied with foreign laws and believes it is innocent of ANY wrong doing. We will fight aggressively to prove our innocence.
Again, the sooner we clear from our government these goons, the better.
71 posted on 08/27/2011 4:43:20 PM PDT by aruanan
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To: Cen-Tejas

Oh man, if only. Before she did that though, she would need to get together with a top flight lawyer like Mark Levin and make certain all the information available points to a case of harassment. And then give them a broadside.


72 posted on 08/27/2011 5:02:19 PM PDT by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: Enterprise

excellent point!


73 posted on 08/27/2011 5:12:56 PM PDT by Cen-Tejas (it's the debt bomb stupid!)
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To: Lancey Howard
You have to wonder how many people who own and enjoy Gibson guitars voted for this corrupt Ubama regime.

You might be surprised. Gibsons aren't cheap. Probably more of them in the hands of net tax payers as opposed to net tax receivers.

74 posted on 08/27/2011 8:22:23 PM PDT by Gena Bukin (Perry/Rubio 2012)
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To: Yardstick

Yes, that’s one of the main angles on the Breitbart sites. His competitor, CF Martin, has a CEO who gives heavily to Democrats, uses the same wood, and has not been raided.


75 posted on 08/27/2011 8:24:22 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: Gena Bukin
It is that small but significant band of taxpayers who inexplicably stick "Kick Me" signs on their own backs and vote Democrat who often put rat candidates over the top in many elections. So yeah, I agree that the typical bums, deadbeats, and parasites who comprise the Democrat party "base" are less likely to own Gibson guitars, but there are still the above-described boneheads to consider.
76 posted on 08/27/2011 9:22:35 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Betis70

Les Paul Custom has an ebony fingerboard, Les Paul Standard has rosewood fingerboard. Both have holly headstock veneer. My custom is all mahogany. The standard has the maple cap. The two are very different and being a good rocker I felt it was my duty to own both. (And a ‘56 wraptail Jr.)


77 posted on 08/28/2011 6:28:51 AM PDT by bk1000 (A clear conscience is a sure sign of a poor memory)
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To: Squantos

I would have more confidence if we had accomplished more the last time “We” were in charge.

Instead spending and regulation exploded as if the D’s had won.

So now I’m truly cynical, guess my age and experience are showing.


78 posted on 08/28/2011 10:42:40 PM PDT by Loyal Sedition (Loyal Sedition, often described as "To the right of Attila The Hun"!)
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To: Loyal Sedition

Your correct....agree. GOP side has squandered to many opportunities to fix what is still broke.

Stay safe ....hope yer well.


79 posted on 08/28/2011 10:55:10 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: PJ-Comix

Got wood?


80 posted on 08/28/2011 11:47:10 PM PDT by Eleutheria5 (End the occupation. Annex today.)
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