Stand with Gibson Guitars rally in Nashville

Reader Ben wants readers to know about a Stand with Gibson Guitars rally in Nashville, TN coming up on October 8.
If you are in or near the area, don’t miss it.
What: A Rally and Free Concert to show our support for Gibson Guitar
When: Saturday Oct 8 2-4PM
Where: Parking Lot of the Scoreboard Restaurant, Nashville (MAP)
Website: http://GibsonRally.com
Why: Federal agents raided two Gibson factories in August and confiscated part of the production inventory of this 100 year old American Manufacturer and Employer. This abuse of federal power must not go unanswered. We, the citizens who grant government its power and authority, MUST act to hold government accountable when that power is abused. Please join us on Oct 8 in Nashville and Stand with Gibson.
The latest on the company’s fight? A scheduled meeting between the guitar maker and the feds was canceled last week. The DOJ sent a letter to TN GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn assuring her that guitar owners who unknowingly possessed guitars using wood deemed illegal by the Obama administration would not be prosecuted. But why the continued witch hunt against instrument makers?
The letter from Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich and Christopher J. Mansour, director of legislative affairs at Interior, said those who “unknowingly possess” an instrument made from illegally imported materials don’t have a criminal problem.
“I am glad to see administration officials stating on the record that they won’t treat unsuspecting musicians as criminals,” Blackburn said in a statement.
But Blackburn added that she doesn’t understand why the same “unknowing” standard isn’t applied to instrument makers like Gibson.
An affidavit supporting the search warrant for the recent raids alleged that shipments of imported Indian ebony and rosewood were given false labels to circumvent import restrictions. Juszkiewicz has denied wrongdoing and complained that the federal government has implicated Gibson, which also manufacturer Baldwin pianos, without filing charges.
A meeting between Juszkiewicz and federal prosecutors scheduled for Wednesday was delayed, and the company also canceled a press conference the same day that was to announce a new mahogany deal with Fiji.
The letter to Blackburn said the federal agencies can’t provide specifics of an ongoing investigation to Congress.
“I will continue to hold the Obama Administration’s feet to the fire until we receive more adequate answers,” Blackburn said.
The armed raids against the music-makers have still not been fully explained.
Over 20,000 have signed a petition to the White House to drop the federal investigation:
The federal officials claim that Gibson violated the Lacey Act, which stipulates that a company cannot import wood in a manner that’s against the laws of the country the wood is coming from. However, Gibson has complied with Indian law and no concerns have been raised by the Indian government.
“Agents seized wood that was Forest Stewardship Council controlled,” Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz said. “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.”
Juszkiewicz believes that the Justice Department is bullying Gibson without filing charges. This is the second time Gibson has been raided by the federal government (the first was in 2009), yet no charges have been filed and the materials confiscated on both occasions remain in federal hands.
Gibson is reaching out to all Gibson Guitar fans, Gibson Guitar dealers, artists, musicians, members of the media, bloggers, politicians and anyone who loves the guitar to sign this petition and demand:
*The current investigation of Gibson will be stopped and brought to a fair and conclusive settlement
*The Lacey Act will be amended to provide clear guidance on how corporations can comply
*Consumers will not be prosecuted for owning or transporting instruments for their own use“Gibson is innocent and will fight to protect its rights,” Juszkiewicz said. “Gibson has complied with foreign laws and believes it is innocent of any wrong doing. We will fight aggressively to prove our innocence.”
Sign here.
***
Background:
9/1/11 Gibson Guitars CEO on DOJ bullies: “[S]macks of something from an Orwell novel”
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Apparently, a young Eric Holder tried to learn to play guitar on a Gibson. He must of sucked at it and blamed the instrument, not his own deficiencies. He has always held the grudge.
Now, years later, he is in a position to do something about it. So he enacted his high-school-girl-who-had-her-boyfriend-stolen-vindicitive-revenge scenario.
Until the Justice Department explains themselves fully, this is the only reason I can see. Oh yeah, and the owner is a Republican.
These kinds of actions should also put a nail in Obama’s coffin. Using agencies of the Federal Government to attack and injure political enemies is undoubtedly a high crime and misdemeanor. This Administration is one big criminal racketeering enterprise. If they cannot be prosecuted then who can be? Conservatives? Tea Party activists? Little girls with lemonade stands?
I am really happy to see that Juszkiewicz is standing up to our thug governement! Good luck to the Gibson company. We need more companies standing up to fight for their rights and business.
This government has gotten completely out of hand by putting their foot on the citizens!
L
Obowmao/Quick Draw McGraw/El Kabong: *I’ll* do the “thin’in’” around here! -And *don’t* you for-git *it*!
so somebody in india “changed”labels, and gibson gets raided? what about martin guitar, they use the same wood, where is there raid? i still want to know what happened in the court appearance of gibson. the week after they were raided, they were going to court to get thier stuff back from the first raid.
Gibson probably does not have choice. Make the greenies happy or you’re out of business.
I hope they get more support from particularly musicians. I’m no expert but even to me Gibson is a name that’s been around a long time and is known for both quality and affordable guitars.
There’s more to this. While Stratocasters stole the thunder and limelight, virtually ALL rhythm tracks are cut w/ Gibsons. They are undeniably the HEART of Rock & Roll.
And what is more American than that?
Here is Charles Edward Berry on an Gibson in 1958:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ofD9t_sULM
Stuff THAT Obama-clown, kent-perez-hilton and Progs everywhere.
I would make a stink about the Democrat friendly gitar companies thak should be similarly raided. What better way to point out the political hypocrisy.
That could be a toss up.
Lots of, if not most, musicians are normal, ordinary folk.
But, lots are likely un- or underemployed, flaky “artistes”; who – also likely and unsurprisingly – have correspondingly flaky political views.
I own a 30 year old Gibson and it’s a lovely guitar with a great sound. Won’t be crossing any international borders with it, though.
If this were a Republican administration, I have no doubt that the music industry and the media would be up-in-arms about this.
Sadly, neither is the case. Not surprised…
I hope Gibson wins….I’d love to show my support by purchasing a custom Les Paul with an illegal-harvested ebony fretboard, elephant-tusk ivory frets and a seal-skin strap.
By the way (OT), what Animal-Planet-endorsed illegal acts of high-seas piracy has the “Sea Shepherd Conservation Society” committed on Whale Wars so far this year?
Make the greenies happy? The hell with them. This is a government-sponsored witch hunt that uses phony environmental rules as cover. If the greenies really had a legitimate concern, they’d be going after Martin as well.
When will they start going after owners and the company’s that made older pianos that used real ivory for the keys?Aren’t elephants endangered?
What’s next, the EPA mandates fingerboards be made out of pressed, reconstituted grocery bag and water bottle residue?
We once owned an antique piano made in England ~1836. The entire body was made of rosewood, the black keys were ebony and the white keys were ivory. What a delightfully politically incorrect instrument!!!
Excellent. We can only defeat this marxist is we keep up the pressure on all fronts !
Gibson, Solyndra, Fast & Furious, $16 muffins, etc. Keep all these stories in the news.
So Holder has matured some?
Maybe I’m naive, but I’m floored that more ‘rock stars-musicians’ aren’t on the bandwagon, regardless of whether they wield a Gibson guitar or not.
When I posted the news of the Gibson raid on my FB page weeks ago, one of my FB pals replied: “I play a Fender, so I don’t care.”
(shakes head)
Rock stars are merely minstrels for the Soviet state hiding beneath a faux veneer of “rebellion.”
You’re joking,…right?
Not bad at all!
Our public educational system has killed (purposefully?) the ability for people to develop critical thinking skills. The obvious reason to care is when the Fender guitar company is in the bulls eye of the target. Idiots.
I’ll be at the rally selling the “I Am
Troy DavisGibson” T-shirts.Nice manufactured outrage
First of all…did Gibson get their confiscated wood back?
Second…If I had the money, I would fly down there to be in the rally!! Good luck with it and I pray it will be loud and clear, just like Gibson guitars!
Using the power of the highest office in the coountry to harrass, intimidate and shake down a U.S. Citizen is a felony, punishable by prison. At the very least, Holder should be fired and then investigated to the fullest. This cannot stand! This is thug tactics at its very worst, and the America People will NOT stand for it! The wheels of justice move very very slowly in this country. BUT, WE.WON’T.FORGET!
I hope, I PRAY that one day, YOU will be the recipient of the thug tactics of this administration. Or that you run out of food and water in your basement room and no one is able to save you. That is, if your head doesn’t explode before that when Herm Cain becomes President of the United States!
“Crackers for Cain”
Actually it’s good business for them to support sustainable practices – which they have done for a long time. This is not about trees, it’s about Obama punishing his enemies (Gibson)while giving a de facto waiver to his friends (Martin).
The definition of “finished” as in finished wood product can have so many meanings, it’s meaningless. No, they are not logs. Yes, they have been cut. How small do they have to be cut to be “finished” – fretboard size and shape? Radiused? With fret slots? With frets? Attached to a neck?
The law they are supposed to have broken is an Indian law – not US law anyway.
For all Herman Cain fans, he’s due to be on FBN sometime later today. They just promoed it.
Notice how this latest raid — just a few months ago – but on the radar particularly for the last 6 weeks or so — coincides with the zero’s ramped up fund raising junkets.
Wish I could support them but guitars are/have destroyed classical music appreciation and the meaningness of having public school music teachers for decades.
James Greenidge
Queens NY
Hey Ma, these jimmies on my ice cream taste funny!
They also make Baldwin pianos. And violins use ebony. And the Feds are targeting your Grey Poupon…
You’re kidding, right?
Is “meaningness” even a word?
Just Bammie’s little way of hot-iron branding every Conservative in the land there IS no Safe Haven!
Now you’ll think of ME every time you’re in your -own- private mancave glancing at that Les Paul you bought in high school, made before “I” was even BORN! HaHA!
More than just hold a rally ( and don’t forget to Sign the petition! ) Gibson needs to blare this from the rooftops with enough Marshall STACKS to divert Polar North, wake the dead and force mother birds to infanticide rather than have their baby chicks subjected to it a minute longer!
According to cabrerski’s unabridged dictionary:
meaningness, n. a mistake, a gaffe, often caused when reading a teleprompter. ex: “I just said meaningness. I hope no one notices the mistake I just made.”
Did Obowmao say the Jews or the janitors aren’t paying enough taxes? Or was it just the Jewish janitors? I’m so confused.
Classical shmassical! Rock and Roll! FTW! (continuously bangs head on desk while waving hands with devil’s horn fingers)
Does the word “meaningless” mean anything?
An interesting side note. B flat.
Rick Derringer is now a Christian, yes the same Rick Derringer that wrote ‘Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo’.
He’s not a minor figure in RocknRoll. He plays and has played with some of the very best.
Mark Farmer of Grand Funk Railroad is now a Christian.
There both ‘Still Alive and Well’.
Yeah and Derringer started his career playing a Gibson, so did Mark Farmer.
It would be cool if both were at this rally.
Yes, it means less, of what, I have no idea!
I guess you’ve NEVER heard Classical Gas by Mason Williams have you?
Excuse me?????
Did they just put in writing that they are not accountable to the people of the United States?
When a gov’t agency violates the law and disregards it’s accountability to he people, it is time for the people to remove the government agency from power.
I get the feeling this thread just died.
Or are we dealing with an enigma sitting on the horns of a dilemna?
This might be a better video since there’s actually orchestral backup.
That makes my eyes water just thinking about it!
(frantically searching same dictionary)
Ahhhh…here it is:
meaningless, adj. devoid of reason or purpose. ex: Obama administration, ILMC’s posts
Obama has issued orders in the White House, that discussions regarding Gibson’s ebony will take place after midday…he feels it is inappropriate to discuss hard, black wood in the morning.
/sarc
JamesGreenidge, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been a fan of classical music for over 70 years. I was also a musician (drummer) for years in my youth, in band, orchestra in high school and college, dance bands and small groups in night clubs later.
I don’t see any intrusion by guitars effecting classical music. In fact, there are some classical guitarists who have significantly contributed to the classics.
Until 2009 I had season tickets to operas and symphonies and saw no decline in attendance. Maybe you should amplify on your comments so we have a better understanding of what you are talking about.
Mark Farner,Grand Funk Railroad,greatest rock and roll garage band ever.Heartbreaker.
Speaking of political correctness and oppression…
As some of you know, I’m a big Firefly/Serenity fan (you haven’t seen them? Drop everything. Go watch all 11 episodes and the movie. Now. Before you cast another ballot…)
Well, it seems the new tone has bit a Wisconsin prof in the buttocks.
‘Firefly’ and Anti-Fascism Posters Get Professor Threatened with Criminal Charges on University of Wisconsin Campus
The poster in question depicts an image of Captain (nee Sergeant) Malcolm Reynolds (aka @NathanFillion) with the following quotation below:
Apparently the semi-literate (unionized) police chief can’t figure out that this is a statement assuring against the initiation of violence.
I wonder what they would have made of a Shepherd Book quote:
Or other quotes of Malcolm Reynolds:
If he’d quoted River Tam, he’d probably have been executed on the spot, in Wisconsin:
More intolerable hate speech
Speaking of hard, I can’t tell you how hard I laughed at your post!!
I’m your Captain yeah yeah yeah yeah!
River: Miranda!
Dobson is tied up in his room]
Mal: I got to know how close the Alliance is, exactly how much you told them ‘fore Wash scrambled your call. So I’ve given Jayne here the job of finding out.
Jayne: [draws a huge knife] He was non-specific as to how.
. . .
Mal: [to Jayne] Now, you’ve only got to scare him.
Jayne: Pain is scary.
I respectfully would like to submit the following as disagreement with your sentiment.
PACO DE LUCIA , John McLaughlin , AL DI MEOLA
Way late,haha, but I noticed I put there instead of their. Shesh.
OK_Loyalist: At the opening of ‘Bazooka’, by Pat Travers, he begins it with a classical piece. It’s Bach, but I can’t think of the name of the piece.
Unfortunately there is dimension to this story of which non-musicians and non-pro-audio folks may not be aware. Although I fully support Gibson in this particular matter, it’s only on principle, not because I have any love left for the company.
Henry Juszkiewicz took over a Gibson Company which was struggling with debt, and banking on the brand reputation, promptly let quality standards plummet. Later Gibson acquired Oberheim and Opcode, two highly-regarded audio companies, and Henry ran them into the ground with a belligerance that bordered on the criminal. For these three reasons Juszkiewicz has precious little goodwill left in the audio community.
So again, while I find 0bama’s DOJ actions outrageous and odious, it’s been really hard to rally much support for Gibson among my colleagues in the Pro Audio world after all the goodwill Henry squandered.
The all-important word here, in my opinion, is “deem”. Whatever this administration deems to be illegal is going to be prosecuted as such. What will they deem you are doing illegally and proceed show up with guns to confiscate from your property?
For what it’s worth, I’ll vouch for this. Firefly and Serenity are well worth seeing.
Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don’t care, I’m still free
You can’t take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell them I ain’t comin’ back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can’t take the sky from me
There’s no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can’t take the sky from me…