Posted on Mar 22, 2015
Stolen Valor: How do we punish the phony "Hero"?
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The guy in the picture says it all. WTF?????
Since the "Supreme Court" shot down the Stolen Valor Act, is there any real recourse to punish the sleazebag through our judicial system? I find it strange that you can go to jail for impersonating a police officer, soldier, or government official, but you don't get squat if you are a "PX Hero" sleazebag. Below is an except from Wikipedia--
United States v. Alvarez, 567 U.S. ___ (2012), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court struck down the Stolen Valor Act, a federal law that criminalized false statements about having a military medal. The law had been passed as an effort to stem instances where people falsely claimed to have won the medal in an attempt to protect the "valor" of those who really had. While a 6-3 majority of the Supreme Court agreed that the law was unconstitutional under the First Amendment's free speech protections, it could not agree on a single rationale. Four justices concluded that a statement's falsity is not enough, by itself, to exclude speech from First Amendment protection. Another two justices concluded that while false statements were entitled to some protection, the Stolen Valor Act was invalid because it could have achieved its objectives in less restrictive ways.
Reaction from the political community and from veteran organizations were negative. Several months after the decision, both chambers of Congress passed new versions of the Stolen Valor Act based on the suggestions in the Court's opinion. Despite the Supreme Court having struck down the conviction under the Act, Alvarez remained in prison for fraud on other matters.--- You notice he didn't get squat for the phony awards.
Since the "Supreme Court" shot down the Stolen Valor Act, is there any real recourse to punish the sleazebag through our judicial system? I find it strange that you can go to jail for impersonating a police officer, soldier, or government official, but you don't get squat if you are a "PX Hero" sleazebag. Below is an except from Wikipedia--
United States v. Alvarez, 567 U.S. ___ (2012), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court struck down the Stolen Valor Act, a federal law that criminalized false statements about having a military medal. The law had been passed as an effort to stem instances where people falsely claimed to have won the medal in an attempt to protect the "valor" of those who really had. While a 6-3 majority of the Supreme Court agreed that the law was unconstitutional under the First Amendment's free speech protections, it could not agree on a single rationale. Four justices concluded that a statement's falsity is not enough, by itself, to exclude speech from First Amendment protection. Another two justices concluded that while false statements were entitled to some protection, the Stolen Valor Act was invalid because it could have achieved its objectives in less restrictive ways.
Reaction from the political community and from veteran organizations were negative. Several months after the decision, both chambers of Congress passed new versions of the Stolen Valor Act based on the suggestions in the Court's opinion. Despite the Supreme Court having struck down the conviction under the Act, Alvarez remained in prison for fraud on other matters.--- You notice he didn't get squat for the phony awards.
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Stolen Valor
Stolen Valor
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 42
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I'm not convinced he's a phony, but he's certainly a self-promoter. And last time I checked officers weren't authorized to wear full-sized medals on their class A or any other uniform.
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Ironically, the photo above is of Lieutenant Colonel Bo Gritz - a legitimate, although controversial Vietnam Veteran. There are probably a few errors in the awards he is wearing but he did earning a significant number during his service - including five Silver Stars. There are any number of photos of fake Vets to be found so maybe you should use one of those.
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I can suggest several actions that could be taken,but since everyone else is using amendments, I think I will take the 5th.
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It's not right to impersonate anyone!...... they all should be punished!!.....
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How can one steal "valor?"
You can't steal courage, you can only display it.
You can commit fraud, though, and that's what people who claim to have earned something they didn't, or to be something they aren't.
Politicians do it for votes and the personal and financial gains elected offices yield. These anger me the most.
Panhandlers do it to increase the money they beg for by appealing to the sympathy of people. These don't anger me, because I'm not stupid or naive enough to believe every heroin addict or professional panhandler begging for money at the stoplight is a Veteran.
Masquerader, whether by wearing a uniform of a service you were never in, an award you never earned, or falsely claiming to have served in a unit, location, capacity, or participated in activities you didn't, are the ones I find most interesting. They offend me, and I find them deplorable, but most of all, I don't respect them because I see them as weak and lacking self esteem. These people are a joke to me, and I don't feel a need to confront or expose them, unless they provoke me.
I have nonmilitary friends who get more offended by them than I. They make it a point to try to introduce them to me when hanging out, and purposely share one of their BS stories with the introduction. When I hear their fraudulent claims, beyond the expected exaggeration any good story deserves, I reply with the most dry "really," coupled with the most sarcastic expression I can muster. Normally, they pick up on it, and move out.
I don't find the need to expose them, unless I'm in a fowl mood, or they persist. I don't get accusatory, or aggressive, and it doesn't take many questions to frustrate their fraud.
With regard to benefits, that is more difficult, and the VA eventually discovers it. Defrauding VA, unless you're an SES or political appointee, will get you locked up.
You can't steal courage, you can only display it.
You can commit fraud, though, and that's what people who claim to have earned something they didn't, or to be something they aren't.
Politicians do it for votes and the personal and financial gains elected offices yield. These anger me the most.
Panhandlers do it to increase the money they beg for by appealing to the sympathy of people. These don't anger me, because I'm not stupid or naive enough to believe every heroin addict or professional panhandler begging for money at the stoplight is a Veteran.
Masquerader, whether by wearing a uniform of a service you were never in, an award you never earned, or falsely claiming to have served in a unit, location, capacity, or participated in activities you didn't, are the ones I find most interesting. They offend me, and I find them deplorable, but most of all, I don't respect them because I see them as weak and lacking self esteem. These people are a joke to me, and I don't feel a need to confront or expose them, unless they provoke me.
I have nonmilitary friends who get more offended by them than I. They make it a point to try to introduce them to me when hanging out, and purposely share one of their BS stories with the introduction. When I hear their fraudulent claims, beyond the expected exaggeration any good story deserves, I reply with the most dry "really," coupled with the most sarcastic expression I can muster. Normally, they pick up on it, and move out.
I don't find the need to expose them, unless I'm in a fowl mood, or they persist. I don't get accusatory, or aggressive, and it doesn't take many questions to frustrate their fraud.
With regard to benefits, that is more difficult, and the VA eventually discovers it. Defrauding VA, unless you're an SES or political appointee, will get you locked up.
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1SG (Join to see)
PFC Jeffrey Herrington some of the YouTube videos are pretty funny, especially when the person let's them paint themselves in a corner. The guy that busts fake Navy Seals if good too. The class number and date ALWAYS gets them. That question is usually the beginning of the end.
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SGT Daniel Rocco Ames
PFC Jeffrey Herrington You get badges at your union job? I'm a Steward, and we get no badge. I demand a badge! (Seems fitting for the topic at hand) Haha
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