Gibson Guitar Plants in Nashville and Memphis Raided Today

The image of the electric guitar player as outlaw is alive and well, but this can’t be helping the economy much at all:

Federal agents are in the process of raiding the offices of the Nashville-based Gibson Guitar Corporation.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents began executing search warrant this morning on guitar factories and corporate headquarters in Nashville and Memphis, according to Nicholas Chavez, special agent in charge with the Fish and Wildlife.

Chavez said the raid included both the corporate headquarters on Park Plus Boulevard and a factory on Elm Hill Pike.

* * * * * *

Gibson was also raided in 2009 for possible violations of the Lacey Act, which bans the importation of endangered plants and wildlife. Federal officials seized ebony and other woods they said were prohibited under the act. Gibson has said in the past it was “fully cooperating” with the investigation.

Yeah, this’ll do wonders for the nation’s unemployment rate, particularly when it causes the next millionaire thinking of investing in a new business or salvaging a century-old one to have second thoughts.