In a vocal demonstration of support for the Lacey Act, a group of musicians joined environmentalists yesterday outside the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, to garner support for the forest conservation law and to stop illegal logging.

A group of seven wood-related associations signed a joint letter to Rep. Jim Cooper supporting his RELIEF Act amendment to the Lacey Act.

What started out as a battle pitting the U.S. Government vs. Gibson Guitar has rapidly spiraled into a multi-front, war over what if anything should be done to change the Lacey Act.

Opponents of the RELIEF Act say the legislation would gut the Lacey Act's prohibition against import of illegally logged forest products.

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, who introduced the Retailers and Entertainers Lacey Implementation and Enforcement Fairness (RELIEF) Act in Congress with Reps. Mary Bono Mack and Marsha Blackburn, is happy to explain why the original Act needs fine tuning.

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) announced legislation to clarify a broad federal law so that musicians, instrument retailers and resellers-among many others- would no longer be subject to penalties for unknowingly possessing illegal woods. U.S. Representatives Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) and Marsha Blackburn (TN-07) joined Cooper as original co-sponsors.