EOC: Week 3, Stolen Valor Act

(http://www.pen.org/blog/?p=14166)

“Updated at 4:15 pm ET The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a federal law called the Stolen Valor Act which prohibits a person from falsely claiming that he has been awarded a military honor”(http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/28/12457855-high-court-strikes-down-stolen-valor-act?lite). While doing research regarding the “Stolen Valor Act,” I came across some interesting stories. I was aware of the indicate that happened not to long ago with a man who claimed to be a veteran whom served our country. Making false claims on medals and purple hearts; taking advantage of our nations people. As I was researching this particular story I came across various stories that were very similar. For instance the man who posed as a Navy Seal on a dating website. “JERSEY CITY — The Bayonne man who impersonated a Navy SEAL on a dating website could have been prosecuted under the Stolen Valor Act before being charged with raping a 15-year-old girl this week, according to veterans who track these cases.”(http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2012/06/jersey_city_rape_suspects_posi.html). Or how about the 18 year boy who claimed to be a wounded Marine to scam people out of money. “Redmond police were called around 4:30 p.m. Thursday to the area of SW 25th Street and Cascade Mountain Lane on a report of a young man going door to door collecting donations and purporting to be associated with Wounded Warriors, said Sgt. Curtis Chambers” (http://www.ktvz.com/news/-Wounded-Warrior-Scammer-Arrested-in-Redmond/-/413192/15290830/-/37jpb5/-/index.html).

“The Stolen Valor Act was originally signed into law in 2006, and made it a crime to lie about war heroism. On the same day that it validated President Barack Obama's health care law, the Supreme Court ruled that Stolen Valor is an unconstitutional restriction on free speech” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/12/stolen-valor-act-scott-brown_n_1668914.html). I beleive we do have the freedom of speech, but to make false claims, or protraying to be a hero to our nations people is not only insulting but obsured. The real heros and the families who have lost their loved ones are the true heros.