Stolen Valor Act - Part 2

[JPL]

Just came across this news item on steps being taken to have a new Stolen Valor Act passed.

House bill makes it a crime to lie about military medals to obtain benefits

People who falsely claim they have received a military medal in order to obtain money or government benefits could face up to a year in jail under legislation that easily passed the House Monday.

The Stolen Valor Act, sponsored by Nevada Republican Joe Heck, is a second attempt by the House to revive a law on fraudulent claims to medals that was struck down by the Supreme Court in June last year. The legislation is identical to a measure that passed the House overwhelmingly last September but saw no Senate action before the last session of Congress ended. The vote Monday was 390-3.

The Supreme Court, in invalidating the Stolen Valor Act of 2006, ruled that while making false statements about receiving a military medal might be contemptible, such lies were protected by First Amendment free speech rights. The case involved a former California politician who lied about being a decorated military veteran. It has long been a crime to wear, manufacture or sell military declarations or medals without proper authorization.

As rewritten, the bill more narrowly focuses on those who lie about receiving medals “with intent to obtain money, property or other tangible benefit.” That could include those who claim medals in order to receive veterans benefits, land a government contract or get a job reserved for veterans. Offenders face fines and up to a year in prison.

The bill, said Heck, “resolves these constitutional issues by clearly defining that the objective of the law is to target and punish those who represent their service with the intent of profiting personally or financially.”

After the Supreme Court ruling, the Pentagon announced it would establish a database of military valor awards and medals, making it easier to validate claims.

The site, http://valor.defense.gov/, lists individuals who were awarded the Medal of Honor or a Service Cross prior to or after Sept 11, 2001. It also lists Silver Star recipients for actions since Sept. 11.

Read the complete article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/house-bill-makes-it-a-crime-to-lie-about-military-medals-to-obtain-benefits/2013/05/20/d9e0a5e8-c1a2-11e2-9aa6-fc21ae807a8a_story.html

Jean-Paul

[army historian]

Well let's hope it isn't as stupid as the first attempt.

[dond]

You would think laws dealing with fraud would cover this.

[paul wood]

Yes it is certainly covered in the UK without all the crap that goes with the stolen valor act.

[Paul R]

Agreed... there are already laws on the books for fraud. This is a case of politicians creating laws so that they can say they accomplished something and add to their resumes for relection time.

[paul wood]

In the UK laws tend to be made when they are needed (usually based on legal precedent) if they don't work they fall in to insignificance or are amended to be fit for purpose. That's the one advantage of not having a written constitution things can evolve to meet needs.

Paul

[Paul R]

I say that the same things happen here as well. I am very happy that we have a Constitution here, as it helps to protect us from a Government gone crazy. Here, the government is run by the people,. The Constitution ensures that the Government does not forget that, or it faces the possibility of forcible replacement.

[paul wood]

Our governments have gone crazy they get replaced and those who succeed them are just as crazy. I think Alexander Pope got it right in his couplet from the Rape of the Lock

"For forms of power let fools contest, ere what is best administered is best."

Paul

[JPL]

On a positive note, this has finally gotten the Pentagon to establish a database of valor awards which makes it easier to expose false claims. (http://valor.defense.gov/)

Nice to see that the database also includes a list of Silver Star recipients since 9/11.

Jean-Paul

[Paul R]

That is really cool. Thank you for posting that site.