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This judge is using examples that do not corrolate to this case. The above examples have to do with lying and damaging someone else or making money off of it. This Alverez (as far as I know) just lied to impress people. He didn't make any money off of anyone when he claimed to be a CMH recipient or playing hockey for the Detroit Red Wings. As terrible as I think lying about your service and war record is, if it does not damage anyone and you don't benefit by it, you should not be prosecuted for it. I know a lot of my fellow veterans disagree with me. But we fought to protect the first amendment. That's protecting the despicable speech as well as the speech we may agree with. We have to protect it all.

I vehemently disagree with your assertions in this statement. The persons damaged by the lying are not just the people being directly lied to. It is all members of our military both active, former and retired. This is why our SEAL's fight so strongly against frauds and Wannabe's. They know, as we all should, that such acts detract from their status. It isn't just the dimishment of the SEALS, but of all the services.

Remember, the CMOH isn't won - it is awarded. In spite of what Napoleon said about 'little bits of colored cloth' Our medals reflect extraordinary herosim, extraordinary valor, not run-of-the-mill acts. It is vital that this society prevent our most extraordinary acts from being diminished by any slug who wants to use them to get laid or a free drink in a bar.

Read this: Stolen Valor

Semper Fi,

"Remember, the CMOH isn't won - it is awarded."

Actually, the CMH is neither won or awarded. It is received. You are a CMH recipient.

"The persons damaged by the lying are not just the people being directly lied to. It is all members of our military both active, former and retired."

While in one sense I agree with you. In the legal sense, unless your lying gives you some type of tangible gain, it is not fraud or illegal. I agree with the Seals who out these fake seals. I agree with people who out these fake "war heroes". Out them and make a public spectacle of them. Humiliate them, but don't criminalize it. Taking away our freedoms always start with something benign. Something all of us agree on. Then it moves on to something else. Like in Germany today where you can be jailed for extolling the virtues of the Nazis in public. Do we really want to send people to jail just for what they say or think? I don't want to live in a society where the thought and speech police run amok. Today it's stolen valor. Then it will move onto lying about your age to bed some hot chick. It's always a slippery slope. Don't take away citizens freedom of speech. Even if it is lying.

The persons damaged by the lying are not just the people being directly lied to. It is all members of our military both active, former and retired. This is why our SEAL's fight so strongly against frauds and Wannabe's. They know, as we all should, that such acts detract from their status.

Pretty weak argument. I do not see how they are being harmed. Normally military types have pretty thick skin. And as they say, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.