Gibson Guitar plant in Nashville, Memphis raided today
In a country where every single piece of wood used to make an individual guitar has to carry its own serial number, even from tiny guitar shops that mostly make instruments for charities [ahem], it becomes easy to inadvertently run afoul of one of the many, many laws that regulate American manufacturing. [Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, aka Public Law 110-246].
Ironically, Gibson could simply move their business outside of the US and not have to be concerned with any of this. Of course, I'm glad they don't because that would remove about 1000 jobs, deny us a great tourism destination, and leave federal agents with absolutely nothing to do.
The saddest quotation from the news story: "The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported tourists arriving to a Gibson Guitar factory in downtown Memphis this morning to find the doors locked and agents inside."
Forget tourists and workers, there might be a stray bit of outlaw ebony that got mixed in with the rosewood when packaged in Indonesia. The armed interception of wood is what's important.
By the way, the resurrection of this company is an interesting story, and more about it can be found here:
Henry Juszkiewicz: Gibson, from requiem to mass profits