Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Stolen Valor

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of whether the Stolen Valor Act should be held constitutional. In other words, should it be a crime for an individual to claim to have been awarded military medals that they never received. The case before the court involves an individual who had claimed to be a retired US Marine Medal of Honor winner. As it turns out, the imposter never even served in the military.

Now the court will decide whether it is a first amendment right to lie. A lower court has previously ruled that lying is a constitutionally protected right under the first amendment and free speech. I sincerely hope that the Supreme Court gets this one right.

Supreme Court to Take Up 'Stolen Valor Act'
The justices said Monday they will consider the validity of the Stolen Valor Act, which passed Congress with overwhelming support in 2006. The federal appeals court in California struck down the law on free speech grounds and another appeals court in Colorado is considering a separate case.

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