[Old Teufel Hunden]

"He pointed to laws against fraud that punish those who make false promises to obtain money and to laws against defamation that punish those who make false and hurtful claims that damage a person’s reputation."

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.

[jazusamo]

The office Alverez held on the Water Board was an elected office so it could be said he did gain from his lies.

[SoldierDad]

Sorry, but lying about combat medals is not free speech. The Framers of the Constitution would disagree that protecting lies falls under a constitutional right. The First Amendment was written to protect people from the power of the government to shut down political speech, and lying about combat medals is not political speech.

[Little Bill]

What ever happened to Impersonation?

[Scotsman will be Free]

I agree with you.

[The Shrew]

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,

TS