The Stolen Valor Act was written with, and for the express purpose of punishing those people that make false claims about their military service, particularly such claims that claim combat decoration.
The law has been challenged, supposedly based upon free speech rights. I think that the real reason is that the damned posers that were convicted are not man enough to do the time for their crime.
Poser’s, don’t do anyone any good. I don’t care if you are an academic poser, such as those that use mail order degrees in order to gain an edge in employment. A Public Service poser, such as the idiots that claim to have been a Paramedic but in fact, barely passed Advanced First Aid… Then, we have those that embellish their actual service. Sometimes even when they did have a very good past in the military, but sullied it by making false claims. A Navel Veteran, that actually was a “River Rat” made claims that he had been a SEAL. Then, there are the real con artists. People that were never even near a military base but make all sorts of claims…
I think that all of the above, are dishonorable, and despicable, and, if used for social or monetary gain criminal.
Well, the Stolen Valor Act is going before the SCOTUS.
Read about that HERE.
Tags: News, Politics, SCOTUS, Stolen Valor Act
Conservative Libertarian Outpost 
October 11, 2010 at 20:45
If the SVA is overturned, can the posers be shot? Please? 😈
LikeLike
October 11, 2010 at 23:35
I understand the free speech, pov on this, and I agree with it. But if you lie about who/what you are, and you do it for any sort of gain, such as a new job/raise/speaking fees/what ever, i think that would be fraud, and punishable by those laws.
LikeLike
October 12, 2010 at 06:40
For those who have never served in the military, but present themselves as war heroes, the “freedom of speech” argument does not apply because they are in violation of a law that states that posing as a government official is a criminal offense – same holds true for those pretending to be police, firemen, municipal employees, etc. If someone is embellishing their credentials, or just plain lying about qualifications, discovery of the truth will have negative results upon their reputation and credibility even if no law has been broken.
“Freedom of speech” is not a free pass for violating the rules of civility and it has become a catchall for excusing illegal and/or distasteful behavior. You can always claim the right of free speech while pissing me off, but “man up” and be prepared to accept the consequences rather than hiding behind quasi-legal protection.
LikeLike
October 12, 2010 at 08:55
So very well stated Maine!
LikeLike