Why Did Feds Storm Gibson Facilities, Confiscating Wood Used to Make Guitars?

Aimee Herd-Commentary : Sep 29, 2011
Gibson Guitars Corp.

"The Federal bureaucracy is just out of hand. It seems to me there's almost a 'class warfare' [going on]: companies vs. people; rich vs. poor; republican vs. democrat… There's a lack of somebody who stands up and says, 'Y'know what? I'm about everyone. I'm really about America and doing what's good for the country." -Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp.

[A simulation] The SWAT-like team of Federal agents waited for the order to storm the building—weapons drawn. "Go, go, go!" The command was shouted and instantly the agents bombarded the doors aiming their automatic weapons at completely unsuspecting employees. Grabbing up the dangerous products of these startled workers, the Feds left in a flurry, having seized the substance they came to apprehend…

If you're thinking this story is about a drug bust, you'd be dead wrong, although I'll certainly admit it reads like one.

No, these Federal agents had orders to storm the Gibson Guitar facilities in both Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, on August 24th this year and seize files, guitars and the wood being used to produce the renowned musical instruments—at gunpoint.

Why in the world would they do that?

Although the government did this without filing any charges against Gibson, an official statement from the Gibson Corp. states:

"The Federal Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. has suggested that the use of wood from India that is not finished by Indian workers is illegal, not because of U.S. law, but because it is the Justice Department's interpretation of a law in India. (If the same wood from the same tree was finished by Indian workers, the material would be legal.)"

This happened once before, in 2009 when the Feds did the same thing in the Nashville facility. To this date, no charges have yet been filed, although they have interrupted Gibson's production and sales, forcing Gibson Corp to file a civil suit to get their seized product back. An official statement reads: "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."

Something must have been illegal to involve the Feds…right?

If the problem was wood being obtained illegally, the Gibson Corp. notes that "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. The wood the Government seized on August 24 is from a Forest Stewardship Council certified supplier and is FSC Controlled, meaning that the wood complies with the 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 www.fsc.org 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 satisfied FSC standards."

Gibson is a "Made in America" company; does the current government have a problem with that?!

In a press conference on August 25th, Henry Juszkiewicz, stated that "over the last two years, we have hired 580 American workers. Just in the last two years. We are one company manufacturing in the United States that's hiring people, that is succeeding exporting, and yet the government is spending millions of dollars on this issue."

Gibson gets support from its customers.

Many musicians who have used Gibson guitars for years are standing behind the company and making their voices heard. Among them, Gene Cornish of The Rascals says, "They use this wood to make guitars and make music and bring people together. They're not making guns. I don't get it." Brian Wilson, of The Beach Boys added his two cents, "We support Gibson because they are the greatest American-made guitar."

Visit Gibson Corp.'s website for more information on this seeming injustice by the "Justice Department," and watch numerous videos by Juszkiewicz, Gibson employees, and musicians.

The Gibson Corp. has also made a petition available to sign which will be given to President Obama. CLICK HERE to access that page, or on the source link provided.