You’re kidding!?!
Nope, wish I were. Salazar (D) Colo sponsored the Stolen Valor Act. It was whitewashed with the noble idea of protecting the integrity of US medal recipients. Everybody’s for that right? I’m a combat veteran, I’m all for that. Few things are worse than someone who claims the laurels rightfully won by another in combat. But laws already existed that make fraudulently wearing and claiming to be the recipient of various US medals a federal crime. The SVA takes it further making it illegal to transfer ownership of any US medals including medals issued to the recipients. The wording includes ANY US medal, decoration, or badge. The way the Law is currently worded, a Medal of Honor recipient can’t give the medal to his kids without making them felons. My wife can’t go to a manufacturer and purchase a medal that her dad earned in Korea (that had been lost and needed to be replaced) without becoming a felon.
I found a WW2 Purple Heart and Bronze Star at an estate sale several years ago. They were going into the land fill if nobody wanted them according to the liquidation staff. They even had the guy’s name on their backs. I had to buy them just because I had respect for the awards and didn’t want them lost to history ( I still have them BTW. I researched him and found out the guy was a KIA with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy). I couldn’t do that today thanks to the SVA. I suspect its true intent is to begin to deny the American people references their heritage and uniqueness. Can’t be unique and be a good Bolshevik ya know. See below reference for SVA details if you want.