The tea party is helping a protest effort for Gibson guitars, whose factories were recently raided by federal authorities looking to see whether the company imported illegal wood. A group of tea partyers and other organizations conducted a rally in Nashville, Tenn. Saturday for Gibson, The Hill reports.

Attendees included Tea Party Express co-chairs Amy Kremer, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Media estimates put the crowd at about 500.

The feds – from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- raided Gibson’s factories in August to see if it was violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits importing plants and wildlife in violation of laws overseas. The concern was that Gibson is illegally importing ebony and rosewood. However, Juszkiewicz says the law is vague and should be adjusted.

“We will fight, and we will make sure other companies do not face bullies with guns,” Juszkiewicz said at the rally, according to the Nashville Tennessean. “With your help, we will make permanent changes.”

Tea partyers have picked up Gibson’s cause, and House Speaker John Boehner has mentioned it as an example of excessive regulation by Democrats.

“We have illegal immigrants crossing our borders every day. They’re breaking the law,” Kremer said Saturday, according to Nashville Public Radio. “The government’s not doing anything about it, but yet they’re concerned about these little pieces of wood that are coming into our country across our borders?”