I agree with this decision. We don’t want the government telling us what we can and can’t say, even if we say something untrue or unpleasant or objectionable.
Also, free speech counters free speech. The correct response to stolen valor is full court press shaming of the individual.
Long live 1A!
I agree with the ruling also. The man committed fraud. I would think he could be prosecuted in that regard if he rec’d money on false pretenses. Who knows? But we don’t need a law to force people to tell the truth. How stupid. It’s like burning the flag. I guess it is free speech. Sorry...1st Amendment allows quite a lot that we have to accept, but that’s why it’s important to uphold it. Good ruling. Who voted what here?
And, on second thought why stop there. I can say I'm a Cherokee Indian Constitutional Law Professor or something.
“We don’t want the government telling us what we can and can’t say, even if we say something untrue or unpleasant or objectionable.”
There’s a huge difference between “untrue” and “unpleasant or objectionable.”
Government regulation restricting the right to lie is the whole basis for laws about contractual agreements, fraud, perjury, etc., etc. The First Amendment was intended to protect unpopular speech, especially against the government, not to protect deceit.
Our society is breaking down, in large part because THERE IS NOW NO SHAME when it comes to lying. The Supreme Court is also upholding lying in its recent AZ immigration ruling by allowing the current administration to refuse to enforce immigration law despite Obama swearing to enforce the laws of the land. The Supreme Court is also upholding lying by ruling that a law specifically described as “not a tax” when passed by Congress, is, in fact “a tax” and therefore Constitutional. If Kennedy thinks this is a tax, shouldn’t the correct ruling then have been “And since you didn’t pass it as a tax, it is unlawful.”?
Yeah, I don’t like the decision, but I have to begrudgingly agree that it’s probably the right one.
Most of these turkeys people were wise to as soon as they opened their yap. A lab partner in college claimed to be (like myself) a military veteran - it took all of about 10 minutes for me to figure out that he was a liar.
Nowadays one could probably get confirmation that they were full of it rather easily.
Let fools be fools. It isn't worth sacrificing the 1st Amendment over.
Now if they fill out any legal paperwork claiming to be a veteran - nail them!
But as long as they are flapping their gums making up hooey and claiming to be a Navy SEAL, just laugh at them.
They have the freedom to lie about their service (or lack of service). I have the freedom to figure out they are full of it and MOCK them.