Law Punishing Fake Heroes May Go to Supreme Court

[ladyskada]

The Justice Department is battling to save a federal law that makes it illegal to lie about being a war hero, appealing two court rulings that the statute is an unconstitutional muzzle on free speech....The Stolen Valor Act makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to falsely claim to have won a military medal, whether or not an impostor

Comments

[ladyskada]

(Playing Devil's Advocate here)
But what if they aren't genuine military medals but instead manufactured as part of a costume?
I mean, you can buy many of the bars & stripes at the local Army/Navy store. Will that become a legal issue, too?
The average person can't always identify each campaign that a pin/bar/medal represents. How would this be evaluated?

[ladyskada]

But when does that version of pretending blur between "actors" and "impersonators"? Where's the line? (Again, debating both sides here!)

[pelgar]

If the SJC rules that it is a "free speech" issue, when will it become acceptable to lie in a court of law, to a police officer, to Congress

[ladyskada]

See? Debate!

I agree that it should be a crime. But for me, it's because it cheapens the value of the medals. These are awarded for bravery/valor/skill in particular situations at particular times. If they are found more easily (real or not), then it lessens the worth of those.

But than I look at all these people selling old medals (real and fake alike) on the Interwebs. Buying and wearing them. How would the line be drawn between using an existing medal for pure decoration and saying that wearing said medal means that you're impersonating an officer/awardee?

.... your employer can sue you? Huh. Wasn't aware of that.