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'Stolen Valor' conviction overturned by federal appeals court
Fox News ^ | January 12, 2016

Posted on 01/12/2016 12:08:14 PM PST by Zakeet

A federal appeals court on Monday tossed out a veteran's conviction for wearing military medals he didn't earn, saying it was a form of free speech protected by the Constitution.

A specially convened 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the First Amendment allows people to wear unearned military honors.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: courtofappeals; medals; military; stolenvalor
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The 9th Circus says you Freepers should no longer condemn people who pretend to be war heroes ... like the Royal Idiot!

1 posted on 01/12/2016 12:08:14 PM PST by Zakeet
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To: Zakeet

I have to say they are correct. It is freedom of speech.

If their deception was designed to get them some personal gain, then they can be charged with fraud. Otherwise, they are just playing dress up and that isn’t illegal.


2 posted on 01/12/2016 12:11:10 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Zakeet

John Kerry, please check it at the White House lost and found.


3 posted on 01/12/2016 12:11:25 PM PST by Fireone (The future must belong to those who tell the truth about Islam.)
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To: Zakeet

Geez! I am going to run to the Army surplus store right now! ;-)


4 posted on 01/12/2016 12:13:07 PM PST by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Why does every totalitarian, political hack think that he knows how to run my life better than I?)
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To: Zakeet

Nonsense. Fraud is not free speech.


5 posted on 01/12/2016 12:15:50 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Zakeet

Figures, More stupidity from the 9th Federl Cicus Court in CA.


6 posted on 01/12/2016 12:21:24 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Boogieman

I agree.


7 posted on 01/12/2016 12:25:23 PM PST by Thud
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To: Zakeet
This is the same court that heard oral arguments in the Peruta case in June of 2015 and has not returned a ruling as of this date. Wonder which way they will side
8 posted on 01/12/2016 12:26:12 PM PST by Cyman
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To: Zakeet

Some of them seem to be pathetic. It is obvious even to people like me who have not been in the military. These, I sort of feel sorry for.

Others are professional con men who lie about just about everything in order to gain an advantage. These are beneath contempt.


9 posted on 01/12/2016 12:27:59 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: yarddog

I guess that means I can put on a police uniform. And start driving a squad car. I’m just expressing myself.


10 posted on 01/12/2016 12:29:51 PM PST by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. - Japanese proverb)
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To: Zakeet

It’s also freedom of speech to use hate speech against Jews and Christians but it is hate speech against the mussies.


11 posted on 01/12/2016 12:32:42 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")
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To: Zakeet

I’m going to put on some medals I did not earn, run into a movie house and yell “Fire!”

That should effectively tie-up our entire Federal Court System for the next thirteen years.


12 posted on 01/12/2016 12:33:01 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Zakeet

So then we can imitate police?


13 posted on 01/12/2016 12:35:01 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: Boogieman

Would it be freedom of speech if I claimed to be a police officer, if I wasn’t?


14 posted on 01/12/2016 12:38:26 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: DannyTN

And:

Soldiers
Doctors
Fireman
First Responders
DEA Agents
FBI Agents
Capital Police

How Absurd.


15 posted on 01/12/2016 12:49:48 PM PST by LeonardFMason (LanceyHoward would AGREE)
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To: Zakeet

Go ahead and wear that MOH with your Civil War Campaign Medal. No one will stop you. I hope decent people will at least publicly shame these morons.


16 posted on 01/12/2016 12:56:00 PM PST by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: Boogieman

“I have to say they are correct. It is freedom of speech.”

I personally think that implicit in the right of Congress to raise an army and navy is the right to protect military valor. If people are allowed to lie about such things, it becomes harder for the government to recruit soldiers. So I would think that this should be an exception to “free speech”, just as the military draft is an exception to the 13th amendment prohibition on involuntary servitude.


17 posted on 01/12/2016 1:02:53 PM PST by doug6352
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To: doug6352

“So I would think that this should be an exception to ‘free speech’”

Pass an amendment then.


18 posted on 01/12/2016 1:16:30 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Zakeet
Free Speech my arse. It's hardly what the FF's meant in the 1st Amendment. The purpose of the 1st was about political freedom of expression. And again, they are rolling in their graves.

Did this guy even serve and have the right to wear a military uniform? If not, I would think there is something in the US Code about that. If so, it's still FRAUD because any wannabe benefits in some way by his Stolen Valor. If not direct financial gain, then free drinks, meals, false admiration, etc.

Every municipality and State has laws against wearing LEO uniforms and/or medals not earned. If we ever needed another Fedgov law, this is one I would agree with. Guess I should add a Navy Commendation medal to my DD214. There's always Photo Shop (/s).

19 posted on 01/12/2016 1:24:30 PM PST by A Navy Vet (An Oath is Forever)
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To: Boogieman

In my opinion don’t need an amendment. Congress right to raise an army gives Congress the right to criminalize stolen valor. If they pass a law that is phrased in that manner the courts will uphold it.


20 posted on 01/12/2016 1:35:05 PM PST by doug6352
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