Stolen Valor Act to make the High Court docket

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by (1VB)compforce

If my thoughts are wrong, please let me know why. I'm always open to learning.

The plurality (which I wrongly thought was a majority when I read it) leaves no room for anything more narrowly tailored. Breyer's concurrence purports to leave that possibility open, so my earlier comments were a bit hasty since a new statute could get five votes. That being said, I don't see my QP friends being anything close to happy with anything that might survive the "intermediate scrutiny" being suggested. The kind of narrowing that appears to be required to satisfy those two idiots really defeats the purpose and devalues honor in a really disgusting way.

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by Don

There's a difference between morality and law.

Maybe in the long run, this outcome will be for the better. As the saying goes, you cannot legislate morality.

Maybe civilians will get to the point where they're educated enough to ask better questions of those who say they've BTDT. Maybe posers (and others) will get to the point where they say "The law says I can put this medal on, but, in my heart it is the wrong thing to do" and makes a different choice.

As a society, we've (for lack of a better term) matured so that some cultural practices are increasingly viewed as inappropriate. Definitely, there's still a lot of work to be done when it comes to treating those who have served honorably with the respect they deserve.

My $0.02.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

Yes

Where is the line on this slippery slope?

TR

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Where is the line on this slippery slope?

TR

Well, the Court has it somewhere other than where we want it to be, that's for sure. Not so easy to define.

[Hand]

Could I dress up like a police officer and drive around in a police car? As long as I don't try to pull anybody over, I haven't really impersonated an officer have I?
What if I stop by Arby's and am not asked to pay for my meal while I'm wearing my fake police uniform, have I then crossed the line?

[ddoering]

Originally Posted by Dusty

With the current SCOTUS, what's right is wrong and what's wrong is right.
The Country's going to shit at breakneck pace.

Order your seeds today!

We are being destroyed from within. Lying is sanctioned. Well then, my new persona is Supreme Court Justice Medal of Honor winner US Marshall helicopter pilot. I will get all the babes now!!!

[craigepo]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Where is the line on this slippery slope?

TR

That's a very good question.

On one hand, it seems that, for example, PV2 Johnny Ranger who tells the girl at the bar a huge line about false war hero stuff, just to impress the girl at the bar, is probably safe from any federal law. Is it a lie? Yes, but the Supreme Court's ruling wont let him be indicted. His ass might get kicked, but he won't go to jail.

On the other side, a guy who falsely claims a purple heart to get into the V.A. hospital has done something that could land him in jail. The only problem with this, vis-a-vis Stolen Valor, is that such a crime would be covered by existing fraud laws. Essentially, such a Stolen Valor law would be redundant.

Where the devil will be in the details is making a specific law worth writing. I would guess that the offending person would have to make a stolen valor claim to obtain something tangible to fall outside constitutional protection.

If I were a legislator handling this, I would go a totally different route, and get this out of the federal criminal justice system. The "Wall of Shame" idea is not too bad. Make the bastards live forever. If some guy makes a false medal of honor claim while running for city alderman, put his name and his lie somewhere easy to find that will last forever. Ensure that his grandchildren learn what he did, and get to suffer the indignity of being in his bloodline.

[BryanK]

Originally Posted by SouthernDZ

...“Our records don't reflect that he went to Vietnam, or that he received any decorations,” said Lt. Col. Tom Choate of the Connecticut National Guard. He noted that Williamson was honorably discharged when he moved to Maryland, where he joined the Maryland National Guard.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/mil...ed-3662148.php

Why do all these guy's flock to Maryland? I need to get the f outta dodge I'm actually glad I ETS'ed from that organization last week.

P.S. The guy's in the 20th here that I donated all that beer to in '08, your welcome

[(1VB)compforce]

And here it comes...

A day after the Supreme Court struck down a law that made it a crime to lie about military service, veterans groups and lawmakers are gearing up for another battle.

The nation's top court voted 6-3 on Thursday that the Stolen Valor Act of 2006 infringes upon speech protected by the First Amendment. The law, which was enacted amid the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, targeted those who made bogus claims about receiving the Medal of Honor or other military decorations. The retooled Stolen Valor Act of 2011 wouldn't stop barroom boasting about bogus service, but would take aim at people who benefit financially or otherwise from their phony claims.

Heck's bill has 52 bipartisan co-sponsors, and Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., has introduced the Senate companion bill. Violators of the law, if passed, would face up 1 year in jail for the misdemeanor offense of lying about serving in a combat zone, serving with special operations force or being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. In any other case, offenders would be fined or face up to 6 months behind bars.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/29...#ixzz1zCsNPIxP