Feds Raid California Kilt Store

[Howard Clark]

I would not take anything ivory out of the US without the expectation that it could be lost returning here.

There is a special declaration form for this, so you can leave with it, and come back with it, and if it was yours when you left, it yours when you get home too. Wompet just posted in another thread about what the number on the form was, but I forget now what it was.

[skruse]

Anyone who skis uses skins. Originally made from seal skin and attached to the bottom of skis, used for skiing up hill. The pattern of the hair flows to the reverse, so you can easily slide the ski forward and don't slip backward, even on steep slopes and while wearing a pack. "Skins" are now made of mohair and still glued & strapped to the ski. Can't wait for the feds to make a raid on REI, Marmot Mountain Works and other mountaineering shops to confiscate their skins. Seal skin has not been used for ski skins in over 50 years!

[Jack Daw]

So, the unaswered question is, what prompted the raid?

[Highland Logan]

So, the unaswered question is, what prompted the raid?

I would hazzard a guess that like most raids, someone "tipped" off the authorties. A disgruntaled customer or employee most likly.

Frank

[Howard Clark]

I would think more likely someone concerned with animal rights, given the location.

[Riverkilt]

I think the real "unanswered question" is what was found....other than the possible word that the "bovine" sporrans were to undergo DNA testing has anyone heard if the raid turned up any seal skin sporrans? Have any charges been laid?

The raiders had to obtain a search warrant from a judge - whatever information was acquired by the authorities in whatever manner was sufficient for the judge to give them the oakie doakie to raid.

Would be nice to know the results. One would think if the shop were "innocent" they'd be bleating it about the media....??

Ron

[img]

Customs found seal sporrans in one of their shipments over a year ago, and they were warned not to ship them to the USA anymore. Apparently the customs people have been checking their incoming packages since the warning. The Feds said it was an investigation that has been ongoing for over a year.

I would suspect that the customs notified the Feds that a shipment was on it's way to the shop, as they showed up a 1/2 hour after the delivery.

[Riverkilt]

So the question remains - what did the Feds turn up in the raid? If they found more seal skin sporrans, in defiance of the earlier warning, won't go well.

Ron