Consider Some Things First...
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| Indian Rosewood Fingerboards |
As the media whips the guitar community into paranoia over the Feds raiding Gibson, let's just chill and consider some things.
- Since the first Gibson raid in 2009, what kind of ripple or domino effects occurred throughout the guitar industry?
- Have any other US guitar makers been raided by the Feds?
- How many internationally touring guitar players- Gibson users or otherwise - have we heard about having instruments confiscated by Customs, TSA, Fish & Wildlife, etc.?
- How many music gear wholesalers/retailers - Gibson dealers and/or other brands - have been raided by the Feds? Dealers with enormous inventory-- Guitar Center? Musician's Friend?
- How many artists & guitar owners have faced or are currently facing criminal prosecution because their instruments are composed of a controlled wood type?
The guitar industry is huge. Import/export is huge. There are many, many guitar makers around the world shipping and receiving instruments and wood material internationally. Are there rules and laws to follow? You bet there are!
But, since the first Gibson incident in '09, it's still pretty much business as usual for the industry at large. Guitars continue being made with various woods. Guitars and woods are imported and exported. Music retailers sell guitars. People buy them. Performing musicians tour the world with instruments of all types and vintages. More and more small boutique builders are jumping into the business.
Is there widespread incidence of law enforcement interference with the status quo of guitar building, selling, shipping, ownership, entertainment and personal transport? Not particularly. Just something going on with Gibson. Kinda strange, isn't it?
If this issue still concerns you, the proactive thing to do would be to get your guitar's history & documentation together, scan it and upload into a small flash drive to stash in your case or instrument control cavity. Or do the RFID chip thing, and get the guitar's vital stats implanted into it-- a great idea for theft recovery anyway.
And in the meantime just be cool, and don't assume Henry Juszkiewicz's problem is also your problem.
Ed Follow-up - Sept 3, 2011 - We have to watch and see how this all shakes down. There are so many angles presented on this topic. I don’t think we know the entire story.
However, as an American, even if Gibson turns out to be totally in the wrong, it’s never proper for any govt or law enforcement agency to descend SWAT team style upon a facility where people are simply making guitars! Gibson employees doing their jobs aren’t the equivalent of a meth lab, armed terrorist compound, serial killer, rapist or armed stand off with some homicidal psychopath. These are working people who pose no immediate threat or danger to the public.
If the Feds actually entered Gibson facilities with weapons drawn, in SWAT gear, and handled people without proper manners and courtesy, this is wrong by any standard whether Gibson had illegal wood or not.
Some commentary and perspectives point to partisan political motives and/or green motives. Others are concerned about the big brother aspects. Others think Gibson and its leadership aren’t on the up and up. People should write their congressmen either way. Americans don’t want a fascist government. American citizens and private business have constitutional rights. Is there any video of either raid which confirms how it was conducted? Hopefully the amount of exposure and attention on this situation will bring out sufficient evidence for the truth on what has actually occurred in all aspects. Hopefully. But then again, who shot JFK?
JP
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