We need to support this guy!

http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/ne...138707304.html

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How was Gibson convicted? Did they want to use some kind of injurious wood on a guitar?

The Lacey Act covers more than just injurious species, it also covers wildlife parts and products, so it could have been almost anything--even failing to correctly label the species of turtle shell coming in to make tortoiseshell guitar pics or inlays or something.

The Lacey Act allows the United States government to enforce the laws of other nations. Gibson had legal permits from Indian government officials allowing them to legally import the wood. AG Holder or one of his people decided they would be interpreting India's laws and decided the permits are legally worthless. Millions of dollars of wood was seized from Gibson and now skilled craftsmen who were making guitars for decades are facing the loss of the livelihood.

The CEO of Gibson made the news rounds not too long ago that this was a politically motivated attack and are considering a similar lawsuit to the one USARK may use against unjust government power and corruption. Fender (Gibson's main competitor), who donates large amounts of money to the current party in power, is not being forced out of business despite having the exact same permits (this is from the CEO of Gibson). Gibson's importation permits were legally signed off on by the Indian Government and our government is saying the Indian government cannot be trusted to enforce their own laws. The federal agents raided the Gibson factory with guns drawn as if they were drug lords manufacturing cocaine. The damages from the Lacy Act extend far beyond the pet trade.

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How was Gibson convicted? Did they want to use some kind of injurious wood on a guitar?

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I don't believe Gibson was actually charged with anything but am not positive. My understanding is the wood was seized and is in limbo since the government does not actually want it to go to court since they acted illegally and Gibson would tear them apart. Gibson must now spend hundreds of thousands in legal fees and years in court to get their legally acquired (ebony?) wood back.

I'm glad somebody is working on reforming the process! Just like the article says, the ACT is way too broad and vague and that's a big part of the problem that allows it to become a carch-all for God-knows-what.

What happened to Gibson is beyond ridiculous! Yea, this needs to be changed ASAP.

Yet another case of out of control government. When will people realize government is the problem not the answer?

illegal wood exports and imports case tremendous damage to the environment, and people that import tons of wood that was illegaly logged in primary forests need to be punished harshly.


The problem with illegal wood is that it usually comes with seemingly correct papers. The solution is a DNA test, that then often proves that its a species for which legal paperwork cannot exist because its globally banned.

If you loosen these laws, then the USA will turn into a market / dumping ground for illegal wood from rainforests all around the world.

if the wood that is ceised and destroyed is worth millions of dollars, then they really got the right guy, they caught a guy that is involved in largescale destruction of rainforest for largescale profit. No sympathy, lock that CEO up.

Tigers have trouble surviving because their bones and fur are extremely valuable, Elephants and Rhinos face similar problems because of their tusks and horns. Its just the same with rare species of old big ranforest trees. Defenseless, and with a big bounty on their head. No dead or alife bounty, dead only, it must be cut up to cash in. Only way to deal with it is to crush the market for such products, to search, seize and destroy it as if it was heroin or TNT. No recompensation, no protection for people caught with it, only punishment.

It would be sad if the USA now allows all illegal wood.... as long as its just imported from other nations :taz:
The Redwood may survive, all other rare and majestic species will be turned into guitars and rifle handles and terraces by the nature-loving people of the US of freakin A.

Weeks later, different question....


ok, so Gibson got screwed, and i hope their only way out is to switch to truly sustainable wood.

Should we now target fender, should we try to get NGOs and the government to take a close look at fender, maybe DNA test some of their products for illegal wood? It has been pointed out that gibson got hit, but fender did not, while having the same "permits". I think it would just be fair for fender to hit the same problems: Investigation for possibly making millions per year with deeply illegal rainforest wood.

Oh I read about this guy--it was based on huge volumes, that's the only reason. I don't think the Lacey Act is enacted upon small-time operations.

BeeGee