Posted on 12/30/2015 7:07:13 AM PST by pabianice
BOSTON (WWLP) – 22News was there Monday when Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill authorizing the toughest “Stolen Valor†law in the nation.
Massachusetts is cracking down on people who falsely claim military status for financial gain. Governor Charlie Baker signed “Stolen Valor†legislation into law Monday, making it a crime to impersonate a service member or veteran for money or military benefits.
The bill was filed by Westfield Democrat John Velis who served in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Reserves. He told 22News some people have been caught wearing a fake military uniform or medals for financial gain from a free meal from a restaurant, all the way to a veteran’s home loan. The penalty for the crime is up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.
Louis Brault Jr., a veteran, told 22News he’s disgusted that anyone would wrongfully take advantage of these benefits, “I feel like the people who earn the right should be able to use the right without being infringed on by these other people that just like to live in the land of make believe and never had to pay a sacrifice.â€
The “Stolen Valor†legislation is one of five veterans-related bills that the Governor signed into law Monday.
I can’t believe it is a deep blue state. Good for them. Glad to see this state taking the lead.
Don Shipley must be happy. Good job massholes.
This one may have more teeth because it appears to tie the criminal charges to a perpetrator's financial gain. But that may ultimately make it just as stupid and useless as the last one, since regular fraud charges would probably be sufficient in this type of case.
Violates the first amendment in certain contexts. Is an actor for hire that plays a veteran liable?
Military Bump!
This is nothing but a "feel-good" law that was passed so the people in the Massachusetts government can mount a soapbox and pretend they give a sh!t about veterans.
Why not finger the idiot doing the impersonation, and have the latest bunch of GIrenes, fresh back from ‘x’, inform him, in their beloved own way, of the error of his ways, and tell the cops where to pick up the left-on-the-sidewalk schmoe?
I suppose charging someone with Fraud simply won’t do anymore, so let’s dream up another “law”.
“’Stolen Valor’ bill signed preventing veteran impersonation”
Doesn’t prevent it, but this does create criminal penalties.
There was a stolen valor case in Kansas, and it was tied to financial gain.
The guy really was a soldier, and he really served in Iraq...but he started showing off an illegitimate Purple Heart...and even got a Purple Heart license tag for his car. Those tags come at a $20 discount, compared to a standard tag - so that was the case: he defrauded the state of $20.
He made a deal, and ended up with community service - at the local VA hospital. But, he still had to go to a sentencing hearing - and a bunch of uniformed soldiers showed up at the courthouse entrance, and line up on both sides of the sidewalk - forcing this guy to walk through a gauntlet of shame.
Didn’t the Federal Stolen Valor Law get overturned?
How can this state law stand if the federal one didn’t?
A Purple Heart is a very sacred medal. It should only be given to someone who was seriously wounded or killed.
I refused one 45 years ago because my injury in a firefight by an AK47 round was slight and only needed treating with iodine and a bandaid.
That was how to handle this. Not poorly conceived laws.
John Kerry could have turned that wound into a Medal of Honor citation.
We were taught “Always wear your Dog-Tags and alwaye carry your MIL-ID Retired, Active or Guard) and I still do.
Vet Ping.
Can we also indict him for wearing an A-3 Air Force aircrew jacket?
At least when GW Bush and his father wore them, they had earned them. They were both military pilots.
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