Gibson Guitars Raided By Armed Government Agents

[dman1991]

This is just sickening.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=45999


When I first read last week about dozens of federal agents descending on an admired American business with automatic weapons drawn, I thought the story was bizarre.

When I learned that what prompted this attack was the Justice Department’s interpretation of an Indian law, in a way that even India doesn’t interpret it, I could hardly believe it was true.

The government’s actions are so outside normal behavior, so lacking in common sense and such an outrage against the freedom of every American that it sounds like a scene from a dystopian novel.

The Obama Administration is engaged in a vendetta against the Gibson Guitar Company of Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee.

Gibson Guitar makes very high quality guitars and attracts customers and tourists from all over the world.

Amazingly, this was the second assault on this small business. In 2009 federal agents seized six guitars, which they have not returned despite filing no charges in the investigation.

It is so bizarre it bears repeating. In 2009, armed federal agents seized six guitars.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, during the most recent government assault on Gibson guitar there were three dozen Australian tourists watching big government attack a small company.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service apparently believes Gibson made inappropriate use of foreign wood under a 1900 law designed to ban materials illegally exported from other countries.
   
Gibson Guitar maintains it has papers from Madagascar in 2009 and India in 2011 proving the wood from both countries is legal, but hasn’t been given the opportunity to defend itself in court since the government has filed no charges.

There were apparently 26 armed federal agents assaulting Gibson Guitar in pursuit of endangered wood.

The Obama administration could use 26 armed agents to 1) help control the border; 2) fight drug cartels; or 3) hunt down terrorists.

But given the hard left bias of President Obama and his appointees, endangered wood from India was a higher priority.

With 14 million Americans unemployed and another 11 million underemployed or dropped out of the work force, the Obama Administration is trying to pressure Gibson Guitar into moving its wood-finishing jobs offshore.

Gibson Guitar’s CEO Henry Juszkiewicz has said that federal agents actually told Gibson its problems would go away if the company just moved its operations to Madagascar.

This is beyond ideology.

It is insanity.

Congress should investigate these bizarre events and the Obama appointees responsible for the abuse should lose their jobs.
     
Here is the local story about the government attack: Federal agents close Gibson Guitar plant in Memphis in search for ebony.

[2NaFish]

There were apparently 26 armed federal agents assaulting Gibson Guitar in pursuit of endangered wood.

The Obama administration could use 26 armed agents to 1) help control the border; 2) fight drug cartels; or 3) hunt down terrorists.

I bet this Guy thinks he has a point when, stopped by a cop for speeding, he says "why don't you go stop rapists"

What a dreadful article. This writer could've spent the time employed in writing this 1. Feeding the hungry. 2 Healing the sick. 3. Picking their nose.

Any point which could be valuable is lost behind rhetoric, pleas to emotion and a huge chip on the shoulder. I just hope that chip is from legally imported wood.

[dman1991]

The writer is Newt Gingrich...

[dman1991]

Can you tell me the last time there was a full scale resistance launched by Gibson? Also did you read the part where Gibson says to have legal paperwork for the wood in question? I would think you were smart enough to get over whatever bias or political agenda you have conjured up in the writing to see the real issue at hand.

Also this article was posted on BBFs twitter. Do you not think it  is just wrong that a suggestion was to move Gibson plants to Madagascar to avoid dealing with big brother?

[dman1991]

I bet this Guy thinks he has a point when, stopped by a cop for speeding, he says "why don't you go stop rapists"

The point here is that Gibson has the legal paperwork for the wood in question  and never was given a chance to show it. Instead of a phonecall or an inspector showing up they decided to bring in 26 commandos, I think less was used in the Bin Laden raid...

[2NaFish]

I would think you were smart enough to get over whatever bias or political agenda you have conjured up in the writing to see the real issue at hand.

I'm smart enough to separate the two issues. It can be both that the article is shit and that gibson have been hard done by.

They are distinct; one is clear, the other requires more information than emotive drivel to make a proper judgement. Although the fact that you're talking about 'big brother' means you may not see it that way.

[2NaFish]

The point here is that Gibson has the legal paperwork for the wood in question  and never was given a chance to show it. Instead of a phonecall or an inspector showing up they decided to bring in 26 commandos, I think less was used in the Bin Laden raid...

The point is that the article is shit. I'm not actually talking about the rights and wrongs of THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION (i'm sure he's directly responsible), i'm saying that the article is offensively poorly written and emotive pish such as pointing out that the 26 commandos, each with a nuke attached to their ballsack, should have been fighting AIDS ridden gorrillas who are currently rioting in down town NY. Its a horrifically stupid point to imply that by doing this possible unjust act that other things will have been left to fester.

[dman1991]

I was not focused on the spin of the article, as 99% of anything you read on the internet today is biased partisan bullshit, as is evident in this article. If you sort through the political commentary, there is actually a disturbing story about government agents running loose in their own country taking what they want without even making an arrest or filing charges against the alleged assailants.

Bringing Obama into this was an obvious political troll by gingrich, and I am sure he has pissed away his fair share of resources. Its not like sending jobs overseas started in 2008. Anyhow I was just hoping to focus on the actual facts and content of the story instead of who wrote it and how shitty the writer was.

[2NaFish]

I never knew who the writer was, couldn't care less now that I know.

[Sean]

2Na good points... 

one article I read talked about  Fish Game and Wildlife  investigating.    Obama and Newt stay out of it... shouldn't be mentioned.
You are correct, there are different branches and levels of job roles.

Anyway while reading articles, one that BF posted....    that were more accurate,  my conclusion is we probably don't know the whole story. Should there be people watching over exotic woods for protection of habitat ... yes of course.    Should the governemnt praise Gibson for employing the 700 American workers?  yes.  Should they give back what they took?  yes.

Another good point I seen was,  there are other guitar companies.  Why only Gibson raids?  maybe there were indeed some kind of whisle blowing going on.   maybe not.

Number 5 alive.. need more input.

[dman1991]

Jesus I didnt post this to critique how the article was written. Who gives a shit, writing and journalism are lost skills in this day in age, get used to it and use your own mind to decide on whatever piece you may read.

Instead of actually discussing what happened you would rather break down an amateur blogger. If you are actually interested in the piece then check your own facts and find a more suitable story for you to read, every story I have read basically reports the same occurances.

[Sean]

Jesus I didnt post this to critique how the article was written. Who gives a shit, writing and journalism are lost skills in this day in age, get used to it and use your own mind to decide on whatever piece you may read.

Instead of actually discussing what happened you would rather break down an amateur blogger. If you are actually interested in the piece then check your own facts and find a more suitable story for you to read, every story I have read basically reports the same occurances.

huh?   who me?   I actually gave more points to facts in the case and opinion than you did :p  during discussion

[dman1991]

It was directed at 2na but everyone seems to be missing the point. 26 armed guards showing up at a guitar factory, stealing guitars even though there is paperwork to be looked at and not filing charges. I understand there is a need for certain levels of authority and precaution is necessary, but this just seems extremely excessive and unjust.

If 2na would rather bash the bias in the article instead of discussing what actually happened than so be it. Maybe we should start a new thread critiquing bloggers.

[2NaFish]

If 2na would rather bash the bias in the article instead of discussing what actually happened than so be it. Maybe we should start a new thread critiquing bloggers.

How do you know what happened? The article told you. Therefore its a good idea to assess the article before trying to understand the facts. In any pursuit, your information is only as good as your source, this appears to be a poor source.