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So in an effort to get ready for summer vacation, the court issued it's decision on the Stolen Valor law. In a 6-3 decision the court sided with the power of free speech, regardless of the truth of the speech. While it is reprehensible that one would lie about military service, the preservation of free speech is important to us all, especially in these forums.

rwg3 wrote:So in an effort to get ready for summer vacation, the court issued it's decision on the Stolen Valor law. In a 6-3 decision the court sided with the power of free speech, regardless of the truth of the speech. While it is reprehensible that one would lie about military service, the preservation of free speech is important to us all, especially in these forums.

I don't have a problem with that, so long as A) the liars are exposed as liars, and B) their lies do not cost anyone except themselves any loss of funds, property, or reputation. So the flip side of that ought to be the freedom to call a bald-faced liar a "bald-faced liar" whenever he or she tells bald-faced lies about a phony military career and/or medals and exploits.

This is one of those where I agree with the court but strongly wish there was some way to publicly shame them. On this same topic could someone elaborate on Rush Limbaughs comments that the court legalized pedophilia with this ruling. http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201206280010" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Please forgive the MM4A link.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

rwg3 wrote:So in an effort to get ready for summer vacation, the court issued it's decision on the Stolen Valor law. In a 6-3 decision the court sided with the power of free speech, regardless of the truth of the speech. While it is reprehensible that one would lie about military service, the preservation of free speech is important to us all, especially in these forums.

I don't have a problem with that, so long as A) the liars are exposed as liars, and B) their lies do not cost anyone except themselves any loss of funds, property, or reputation. So the flip side of that ought to be the freedom to call a bald-faced liar a "bald-faced liar" whenever he or she tells bald-faced lies about a phony military career and/or medals and exploits.

For B they should be prosecuted fraud, theft by fraud, libel, or slander.

VMI77 wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:

rwg3 wrote:So in an effort to get ready for summer vacation, the court issued it's decision on the Stolen Valor law. In a 6-3 decision the court sided with the power of free speech, regardless of the truth of the speech. While it is reprehensible that one would lie about military service, the preservation of free speech is important to us all, especially in these forums.

I don't have a problem with that, so long as A) the liars are exposed as liars, and B) their lies do not cost anyone except themselves any loss of funds, property, or reputation. So the flip side of that ought to be the freedom to call a bald-faced liar a "bald-faced liar" whenever he or she tells bald-faced lies about a phony military career and/or medals and exploits.

For B they should be prosecuted fraud, theft by fraud, libel, or slander.

No argument from me.

The same should apply to people who lie on their resumes and defraud companies that hire them.

In my opinion the conduct in this case is no different than the Westboro Baptist Church protesting soldiers funerals. I hate it and openly voice my opinion against it, but I understand the Supreme Court's reasoning.

I heard about this site on the radio earlier this week. I guess they receive requests to verify the story of people who claim to have won medals or say they belonged to elite service groups. In other words, they vet the vets. I don't know if they charge for this service, but there is a donate button on their home page.
http://www.stolenvalor.com/

hi-power wrote:I heard about this site on the radio earlier this week. I guess they receive requests to verify the story of people who claim to have won medals or say they belonged to elite service groups. In other words, they vet the vets. I don't know if they charge for this service, but there is a donate button on their home page.
http://www.stolenvalor.com/

Perhaps this site could also include a section for people known to have acted fraudulently w/respect to their claims of past military service?

VMI77 wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:

rwg3 wrote:So in an effort to get ready for summer vacation, the court issued it's decision on the Stolen Valor law. In a 6-3 decision the court sided with the power of free speech, regardless of the truth of the speech. While it is reprehensible that one would lie about military service, the preservation of free speech is important to us all, especially in these forums.

I don't have a problem with that, so long as A) the liars are exposed as liars, and B) their lies do not cost anyone except themselves any loss of funds, property, or reputation. So the flip side of that ought to be the freedom to call a bald-faced liar a "bald-faced liar" whenever he or she tells bald-faced lies about a phony military career and/or medals and exploits.

For B they should be prosecuted fraud, theft by fraud, libel, or slander.

They are. There's one person who has, for the last 12 years, been running a training academy for his local law enforcement and security company employees. He listed as his credentials for his expertise that he was a retired Special Forces light colonel. His fraud was found out and he was sentenced to 21 months in prison and must pay back every student or organization who ever paid for a class at his company.

Kythas wrote:They are. There's one person who has, for the last 12 years, been running a training academy for his local law enforcement and security company employees. He listed as his credentials for his expertise that he was a retired Special Forces light colonel. His fraud was found out and he was sentenced to 21 months in prison and must pay back every student or organization who ever paid for a class at his company.

You would be speaking of William (Bill) Hillar. You can read about him at PS.COM http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/for ... hp?t=30904

While posers cannot be prosecuted for stolen valor alone, they can be prosecuted for other crimes, as was the case with this clown.