Stolen Valor Act revoked

Walt'sBeerWench · 06-29-2012, 11:16 AM

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012...est=latestnews

"Though few might find respondent's statements anything but contemptible, his right to make those statements is protected by the Constitution's guarantee of freedom of speech and expression. The Stolen Valor Act infringes upon speech protected by the First Amendment," Kennedy said."

I am beyond words at the moment.

Kristin_5 · 06-29-2012, 11:47 AM

Well, I don't think I like that it was a law that you couldn't lie about it. Do I think it's abhorant that someone would claim they won a medal but hadn't actually won it? Of course. But making a law against saying it? I don't like it, regardless of the topic.

Walt'sBeerWench · 06-29-2012, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristin_5

Well, I don't think I like that it was a law that you couldn't lie about it. Do I think it's abhorant that someone would claim they won a medal but hadn't actually won it? Of course. But making a law against saying it? I don't like it, regardless of the topic.

I am interested in your reason.

For me....The reason I think there should be is that people most of the time are doing so to gain something for it. Gaining something that they wouldn't get otherwise. To me that is stealing.

Kristin_5 · 06-29-2012, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt'sBeerWench

I am interested in your reason.

For me....The reason I think there should be is that people most of the time are doing so to gain something for it. Gaining something that they wouldn't get otherwise. To me that is stealing.

Maybe it is just for show? To pick up women/men? It's a sleezeball thing to do either way. But I'm not interested in the government regulating words that come out of people's mouths regardless of their motivation. People lie to other people that they want to date to gain something from them but we don't send them to jail. Signing an affidavit saying that you have a war medal is different, but just telling someone?

Mrs Huffy · 06-29-2012, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristin_5

Well, I don't think I like that it was a law that you couldn't lie about it. Do I think it's abhorant that someone would claim they won a medal but hadn't actually won it? Of course. But making a law against saying it? I don't like it, regardless of the topic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristin_5

Maybe it is just for show? To pick up women/men? It's a sleezeball thing to do either way. But I'm not interested in the government regulating words that come out of people's mouths regardless of their motivation. People lie to other people that they want to date to gain something from them but we don't send them to jail. Signing an affidavit saying that you have a war medal is different, but just telling someone?

It is not like they can walk into a VA clinic and get benefits and a check based on their word. If they are lying and getting free food, that is on them, or the establishment for not checking out the story. You can not make laws to stop people from being assholes, because everyone has a right to be an A hole as long as they are not hurting other people.

seasmom · 06-29-2012, 04:58 PM

It is outrageous to me that people can get away with it. I find it detestable. Same with those Westboro nut jobs. They are sickening.

That's the downside of our First Amendment. We can't always like what people say or do, but the alternative (no freedom of speech) is so much worse to me.

And besides, if you find someone who dares to pretend to have earned those medals then maybe some real military guys can be sent their way.

Walt'sBeerWench · 07-02-2012, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seasmom

It is outrageous to me that people can get away with it. I find it detestable. Same with those Westboro nut jobs. They are sickening.

That's the downside of our First Amendment. We can't always like what people say or do, but the alternative (no freedom of speech) is so much worse to me.

And besides, if you find someone who dares to pretend to have earned those medals then maybe some real military guys can be sent their way.

Or gals......

Walt'sBeerWench · 07-02-2012, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristin_5

Maybe it is just for show? To pick up women/men? It's a sleezeball thing to do either way. But I'm not interested in the government regulating words that come out of people's mouths regardless of their motivation. People lie to other people that they want to date to gain something from them but we don't send them to jail. Signing an affidavit saying that you have a war medal is different, but just telling someone?

I can see your point. It is a slippery slope. I guess it just "gets my goat". There are a lot of military people that deserve medals and recognition for going above and beyond and they don't get and in their opinion don't need/want it. Then you have this douchebaggery. Grrrrr....

**marybeth** · 07-02-2012, 07:19 AM

Fraudulent behavior is fraudulent behavior regardless of how one deceives others. If you send out an email saying you are a Nigerian prince and request money from the recipient and then it will help you free up your millions of dollars which you will share with them (and come on, most of us have seen or at least heard of that thing circulating) then to me, that is no better or worse than if you say you are military and use that for gain.

I had a civilian dude the other day, he was the egg cook at a breakfast buffet and he answered everything with the double sir or double ma'am, which is a pretty signature Marine thing. So I inquired about it and his story was so outlandish to me to the would be an egg cook on a breakfast buffet after, as he claimed, he was Marine force recon (a very elite, small group overall) and had done X Y &Z & flown in all these aircrafts and jumped out of them (unfortunately for him I ended up finding some holes in how what he was saying, or at least a high improbability of it but I just let him go and rolled my eyes to myself. Also in part because usually the badass-est of folks aren't the ones who run their whole resume by anybody who seems like they will listen. I just laughed at him because what he seemed more likely is that he was Marine force recon in his video game, in his mothers basement.

Walt'sBeerWench · 07-02-2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marybeth

Fraudulent behavior is fraudulent behavior regardless of how one deceives others.
I just laughed at him because what he seemed more likely is that he was Marine force recon in his video game, in his mothers basement.

I agree with the first and.....

to the second.....

phrogger · 07-02-2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marybeth

Fraudulent behavior is fraudulent behavior regardless of how one deceives others. If you send out an email saying you are a Nigerian prince and request money from the recipient and then it will help you free up your millions of dollars which you will share with them (and come on, most of us have seen or at least heard of that thing circulating) then to me, that is no better or worse than if you say you are military and use that for gain.

I had a civilian dude the other day, he was the egg cook at a breakfast buffet and he answered everything with the double sir or double ma'am, which is a pretty signature Marine thing. So I inquired about it and his story was so outlandish to me to the would be an egg cook on a breakfast buffet after, as he claimed, he was Marine force recon (a very elite, small group overall) and had done X Y &Z & flown in all these aircrafts and jumped out of them (unfortunately for him I ended up finding some holes in how what he was saying, or at least a high improbability of it but I just let him go and rolled my eyes to myself. Also in part because usually the badass-est of folks aren't the ones who run their whole resume by anybody who seems like they will listen. I just laughed at him because what he seemed more likely is that he was Marine force recon in his video game, in his mothers basement.

OMG that is hilarious. Sounds like my cousin who likes to tell everyone he was on a special forces team with the air force. So top secret they don't even have a name. He did countless missions to Iraq and was wounded with shrapnel etc all the while he was calling his girlfriend daily from Jersey. (He really was in the Air Force though). Makes you almost want to call them out on it, but then it is almost funnier to let them really think you are buying their BS.

**MarineHusband** · 07-02-2012, 03:31 PM

I have about the same reaction to this as to burning the flag... it's not really in our core values to outlaw it, but it's in (at least) enormously poor taste and is a major social no-no. As a troop, I'd say, "Yup, I'm serving to protect your sorry @$$, too."

06-29-2012, 11:16 AM	#1
Walt'sBeerWench Senior Member Getting warmer Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 356 My Mood:	Stolen Valor Act revoked http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012...est=latestnews "Though few might find respondent's statements anything but contemptible, his right to make those statements is protected by the Constitution's guarantee of freedom of speech and expression. The Stolen Valor Act infringes upon speech protected by the First Amendment," Kennedy said." I am beyond words at the moment.

06-29-2012, 11:47 AM	#2
Kristin_5 Home You can't touch this! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: TX Posts: 5,202 My Mood:	Re: Stolen Valor Act revoked Well, I don't think I like that it was a law that you couldn't lie about it. Do I think it's abhorant that someone would claim they won a medal but hadn't actually won it? Of course. But making a law against saying it? I don't like it, regardless of the topic.

06-29-2012, 04:58 PM	#6
seasmom Member just warming up Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ft. Campbell Posts: 38	Re: Stolen Valor Act revoked It is outrageous to me that people can get away with it. I find it detestable. Same with those Westboro nut jobs. They are sickening. That's the downside of our First Amendment. We can't always like what people say or do, but the alternative (no freedom of speech) is so much worse to me. And besides, if you find someone who dares to pretend to have earned those medals then maybe some real military guys can be sent their way.

07-02-2012, 07:19 AM	#9
marybeth iraq. Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: CA Posts: 16,843	Re: Stolen Valor Act revoked Fraudulent behavior is fraudulent behavior regardless of how one deceives others. If you send out an email saying you are a Nigerian prince and request money from the recipient and then it will help you free up your millions of dollars which you will share with them (and come on, most of us have seen or at least heard of that thing circulating) then to me, that is no better or worse than if you say you are military and use that for gain. I had a civilian dude the other day, he was the egg cook at a breakfast buffet and he answered everything with the double sir or double ma'am, which is a pretty signature Marine thing. So I inquired about it and his story was so outlandish to me to the would be an egg cook on a breakfast buffet after, as he claimed, he was Marine force recon (a very elite, small group overall) and had done X Y &Z & flown in all these aircrafts and jumped out of them (unfortunately for him I ended up finding some holes in how what he was saying, or at least a high improbability of it but I just let him go and rolled my eyes to myself. Also in part because usually the badass-est of folks aren't the ones who run their whole resume by anybody who seems like they will listen. I just laughed at him because what he seemed more likely is that he was Marine force recon in his video game, in his mothers basement.

07-02-2012, 03:31 PM	#12
MarineHusband Loyal Escort Moderator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,851 My Mood:	Re: Stolen Valor Act revoked I have about the same reaction to this as to burning the flag... it's not really in our core values to outlaw it, but it's in (at least) enormously poor taste and is a major social no-no. As a troop, I'd say, "Yup, I'm serving to protect your sorry @$$, too." __________________ "There are essentially four basic forms for a joke - the concealing of knowledge later revealed, the substitution of one concept for another, an unexpected conclusion to a logical progression, and slipping on a banana peel." - Cartoonist Charles Preston