<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:ns0="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> That is the charge, Ed, but Gibson has documentation from the country of origin that it meets their standards for finishing before leaving. They did processing on the raw wood, enough to pass their standards. Our arrogant federal prosecutors, ever eager to arrogate more power, collect more fines, put more people in prison, have decided that the country of origin is not properly interpreting their own laws. It’s becoming more clear who the terrorists are and none of us are safe. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> Dean W May                        (812) 235-5272 voice and text<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com           (888) DEAN-MAY         <o:p></o:p> <ST1:PLACE u1:st="on"><ST1:PLACE u2:st="on"><U2:CITY u1:st="on"><ns0:City w:insAuthor="Dean May" w:insDate="2011-08-28T00:18:00Z" w:endInsAuthor="Dean May" w:endInsDate="2011-08-28T00:18:00Z">Terre Haute</ns0:City></U2:CITY> <ns0:State w:insAuthor="Dean May" w:insDate="2011-08-28T00:18:00Z" w:endInsAuthor="Dean May" w:endInsDate="2011-08-28T00:18:00Z"><U2:STATE u1:st="on">IN</U2:STATE></ns0:State> <ns0:PostalCode w:insAuthor="Dean May" w:insDate="2011-08-28T00:18:00Z" w:endInsAuthor="Dean May" w:endInsDate="2011-08-28T00:18:00Z"><U2:POSTALCODE u1:st="on">47802           Give us a LIKE on Facebook! Go to PianoRebuilders.com</ns0:PostalCode></U2:POSTALCODE><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ed Foote Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 4:04 PM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">pianotech@ptg.org</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Feds confiscating musical instrument materials<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <<Recently the Gibson Guitar Company was raided by federal agents asserting that the company has been using illegally obtained banned lumber from protected forests. >> <o:p></o:p> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> Greetings, <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>    According to our <st1:City w:st="on">Nashville</st1:City> paper, the problem with the wood Gibson had was that <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>'s laws require the wood to be finished before leaving the country, ie, whatever manufacturing is to be done with the wood has to be done in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>.  So, the Feds were confiscating material that <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> says should not have been exported in the condition it was in.  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>    I think this is an idiotic  setting of priorities.  There are far more important things we should be spending enforcement dollars on.  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Regards, <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Ed Foote RPT <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     <o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>