Posted on 07/17/2010 2:45:37 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
A law that makes it illegal to lie about being a war hero is unconstitutional because it violates free speech, a federal judge ruled Friday.
U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn dismissed a case against Rick Glen Strandlof, who claimed he was an ex-Marine who was wounded in Iraq and received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. The military had no record that Strandlof had ever served, and he was charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to falsely claim to have won a military medal.
Blackburn ruled that the government did not show it has a compelling reason to restrict that type of statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I agree. Uncover the lies, shame the perps to death. Keep the state out of it.
I also agree with the judge. People who falsely claim to be heroes are disgusting, but, unless they try to draw a military benefit, etc., I don’t think the idiots have committed a crime.
Let the buyer beware. We don’t need Congress to protect us against every panhandling fool or liar running for public office.
Kinda reminds me of a war story from my dad and one of his friends. They walked up to the car they used while based at Amarillo Air Force Base and caught someone stripping parts out of the engine compartment. They decided to deal out a punishment to the perps right then and there. When the cops showed up to find out why a fight was going on and saw who was getting the tar beat out of them, they (the police) offered to take another trip around the block while Dad & Charlie finished the job.
Probably did more good for the little weasels than any amount of "justice" at the hands of the state would have.
That may be but someone is found out they’re not the war hero or have the medals they say they have, whatever career they’re going after using a false military history, their career is over anyway .... right now I guess the judge made it a non-criminal offense ... I think wearing the MOH you’re not entitled to is an offense ....
How? There's no standard anymore with which to shame...We have let this country go. Lying about military service should be a crime without a doubt.
I think that’s an important distinction. If someone tells me tall tails about his phony military exploits, so what? When he pins a medal on his chest he’s not entitled to that is another matter all together and I believe already covered adequately by laws.
How about a real veteran who tells improved version of his actual experience? Jail?
So does this mean J F’n K can now FINALLY apply for his 1968 “Christmas in Cambodia” in country mission medal?....You know...the super duper secret one he claimed in 1986 in the Congressional Record that President Nixon sent him on in 1968??
I say “bring it on” and let the fun begin.
I was an Admiral-General in the military, in charge of a bunch of Special SEAL Forces, combined Army/Navy troops.
We wore our uniforms backward so when the enemy saw us, they would think we were retreating. It was also easier to walk with your flippers on backward.
Our unit was so secret, no one has ever heard of it.
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I agree that this law is one that should never have been passed. Liberals tend to outlaw all behavior that they find to be politically incorrect or offensive to them. Here we have a law passed by so-called conservatives that does the same thing. The constitution prohibits congress from infringing upon free speech, including the freedom to lie about who you are to people who don't know you.
As I said on another thread, if it is illegal for a guy to lie about his accomplishments when he is talking to chicks at a bar, it should be illegal for chicks to pad their bras.
We need less of these kinds of laws, not more.
Under what provision of the Constitution did Congress enact this legislation?
This is the question we ask liberals when they try to squelch the free speech of conservatives and religious people with political correctness and "hate speech" laws. Why don't we ask ourselves that when we want to outlaw behavior that we think is offensive to us?
I wonder what liberal college this judge got his law degree from.
Awesome. By the way, I am a former Ranger, Navy SEAL, and I did a stint in the CIA and am now an FBI agent when I am not doing mundane stuff in the NSA building.
Oh yeah and theres this bridge...
John Kerry knew this all the time. s/off
That's the heart of the issue. If the lie is now protected speech, then all criminal laws against fraud will have to disappear. Along with any civil penalties for libel and slander.
What a buffoon.
Law against posing as a war hero is unconstitutional, Colorado judge rules
LOL...John McCain will be thrilled to hear that!
Clearly the judge is on a rocky mountain high.
Can someone now claim to have been a Federal judge who was impeached for refusing to uphold the constitution? < /sarc>
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