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[Hock]

"Across the country, police are rounding up a growing class of felons: valor thieves. With two wars, valor has become a valuable commodity for individuals who want to skip enlistment and combat and go directly to the hero adoration stage. Under the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, it is a federal crime to claim unearned military decorations or medals. While widely popular, these prosecutions raise constitutional questions of free speech. From judges to admirals to bank employees, citizens are facing accusations of felonious bravado..."

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/03/column-stolen-valor-is-offensive-but-is-it-a-crime.html

[redcap]

The writer raises a good point. While the Stolen Valor Act is, on the surface, a good thing it does set a precedent and a dangerous one at that. While at the moment there is little argument against prosecuting these vermin, look back to the 70s and the public sentiment of the time was very different regarding veterans. This might have made misrepresenting oneself moot or even opening yourself up to criticism rather than adoration. We might be just two My Lai's and an Abu Ghraib away from those days returning.

So where does Congress draw the line when it comes to making certain acts illegal? I am by no means condoning stolen valor, I despise it. I have just the one medal for serving my country and that's that. I'm not about to insult my comrades in arms and my family who have a swag more by buying some replicas and strutting around town looking for the admiring glances. However the risk is that this is the thin edge of the wedge.

What's next? A new law saying you can't wear ex-military clothing items you bought at the surplus store? I never do but plenty of civilians do. What about people who buy a diploma or degree online? Dumb and shameful, but criminal? What if I pretend I am a helicopter pilot to pick up a sheila in a bar and she turns out to be a federal agent and arrests me for the new 'Stolen Vocation Act'? Now I'm a criminal, record and all. Having actually used the chopper pilot line (it worked) would there be a statute of limitations?

Or, the legal point taken to the extreme, now you can get extra time for lying to a cop, or your mom or boss or your wife. Next thing I'm in the slammer for writing those notes with the tiny, tiny writing my kids think come from the tooth fairey! Hell, I'm incriminating myself with every baby tooth! I got five kids and four of them still have baby teeth! I could be put away for life. A serial offender! Any thoughts?
Redcap

[JimH]

I am for prosecution of people who misuse the Military and or Stolen Valor for their own gain or Agenda.

I do not care if some kid wants to wear BDU's in the street.
but
If you March in a Parade or go around and speak at schools as a Medal Of Honor Winner and you are a fake you should pay a hefty fine to the Veterans Organization ,widows and orphans,or some form of Veterans fund.

If you use the military as a claim to fame and you never served and you make a profit ,off those claims then you should be fined.

If you misuse the Military,like the young man who claimed to have been a US Army Ranger and went on youtube,TV shows and Radio,saying he was a Ranger in the Gulf War and was  ordered to kill inocent woman and children,Now he should be imprisoned and fined.

There are laws against portraying yourself as a Police Officer,so why not for being in the Military ?

[redcap]

We have laws against misrepresenting yourself as a government employee, including military, police etc. As for former employees, I don't think so. I think those who do pretend to be MOH winners and talk at schools etc should have their heads shaved and be paraded back there to atone for their sins. Embarrass the hell out of them but we know the civil liberties types would never stand for it. Not many of them ever wore uniforms, though, did they?
Redcap