[xsexymasterix]

Whay part of free do you not understand?

[HaseBeceDeemy]

Even ignoring the blatant violation of free speech, the Stolen Valor Act was a stupid law.

[Elaltergephah]

Free speech is not lying. That's an indicator of what's wrong with the world now. Free speech is expressing your belief on a subject, not fabricating bullshit.


EDIT: I want to add that lying spouses are what make all spouses suspect. Liars on resumes make all resumes suspect. Liars make it much harder on the majority, IMO it's the majority, who aren't liars.

[markkisil]

The idea of criminalizing lying is really amusing. Slowwhand, I'm sorry but genetically you're just an idiot.

[Laqswrnm]

Just to play retard's advocate, because I really think you are a retard, I just want to point out something in case any toddlers are reading this thread, it's important to distinguish fraud and theft from lying; lies can be a form of fraud (and therefore theft), but when they aren't, they are ok

[MADwanker]

I'll tell you what bothers me, that you are so god damn stupid

[7UENf0w7]

I am a little drunk

being drunk is like drunk driving

please dont shoot me

[adsexpist]

There's no "deemed" to it. There's no "what exists in your mind" catch-all as an excuse.

[smazibummigue]

I led my niece to believe that Santa Claus is real - I guess I can look forward to her eventually accusing me of being a thief and subsequently shooting me

[pharweqto]

Actually, ignore everything I wrote up there. It's a great approach to the law. I'm off to the nearest US hospital where I will be claiming to be a gynaecologist.

[softy54534]

Actually, ignore everything I wrote up there. It's a great approach to the law. I'm off to the nearest US hospital where I will be claiming to be a gynaecologist.

There are jobs where having a military honor is not only a requirement, but a relevant requirement affecting one's ability to perform the job?

Also, how hard is it to confirm that someone did, in fact, receive a medal, esp. a medal of honor? Those aren't all that common.

[Scukonah]

The branch of the military, or congress, that supposedly awarded the thing in the first place? I know multiple people have asked the Navy and confirmed that L. Ron Hubbard's purported eighteen billion medals are BS. I don't think that's restricted to founders of religions.

[Dkavtbek]

There are jobs where having a military honor is not only a requirement, but a relevant requirement affecting one's ability to perform the job?

Not a medal but service? Yes definitely, including preferential hiring for veterans.

We're not just talking about people claiming medals here. We're also talking people claiming to be in the military or having served.

I've heard second-hand about this stuff. Where a Marine reservist starting working at a job and was told there's this former special forces Marine that worked there. The reservist asked a few questions and easily found out the guy was a fake yet he had the staff, that don't know any better, fooled for years and had long considered the guy a special hero they had working there.

Dishonesty, especially dishonesty with regards to something that we deem as heroic, just bothers our moral sensibilities and you should feel there should be some justice. If anyone acts like Sloww is an idiot, you apparently operate in a different world with regards to right and wrong from us. Unfortunately, that pesky free speech...

[slarceSelia]

Who would they check with? Someone else who might exercise their freedom of speech to lie about it as well? They'd just check with the government. And yes, if a job applicant and the government both willingly lie to help the applicant get hired, those are examples of fraud.

I have no idea on earth why you would criminalize saying "I have a medal of valor" unless it involves fraud/perjury/etc. Should it also be a crime to lie and tell girlfriend she isn't fat? Because your honor I would plead GUILTY AS HELL. To be honest, I'm closer to having a medal of valor/honor/whatever you losers call it than a skinny girlfriend.

[phernikas]

There are jobs where having a military honor is not only a requirement, but a relevant requirement affecting one's ability to perform the job? Quite a few.

Also, how hard is it to confirm that someone did, in fact, receive a medal, esp. a medal of honor? Those aren't all that common. People aren't allowed to lie about academic credentials, so I don't see why this is any different. It's fraud, plain and simple.

The most effective way to check fraud of this manner would be for the vets to post up a public database of all MOH winners.

[Grorointeri]

If they land a job because of that deception, it looks like a clear-cut case of fraud to me. Why do Americans tie themselves up in knots over these laws?

Well that's one of the main issues. The Stolen Valor Act has no provision for actual damages done as a result of the lying, such as fraudulently obtaining a job. So basically just drunkenly saying you are Medal of Honor recipient in a bar full of people can make you subject to criminal prosecution.

[BPitt]

No, it is not fraud unless it done to gain some economic value, any more than it is fraud for somone to falsely brag to buddies about some achievment Pretty sure the law considers it fraud for non-doctors to provide medical advice, non-lawyers to provide legal advice, etc. Licensing agencies take that very seriously. Then you have con artists who actually work as a teacher, drive buses, wear a collar, fake a badge.

Even if there is no economic motive, it's still fraud.

[Xcqjwarl]

They don't get paid for that? Not usually, no.

I know plenty of folk who are just fine giving legal advice for free. They aren't doing anything illegal by it though. There's nothing wrong with lawyers dispensing free legal advice. Nor is it wrong for non-lawyers to supply free legal advice. But if they dispense free legal advice and say, "I'm a lawyer, trust me", they cross that line. The reason it's there is to protect the public. The economic incentive is ancillary. Fraud doesn't hinge on making money off the fraud.

[CatLuvkaLover]

Let's be clear, it's not just MOH recipients. Per the ruling, any lie can be told about service. Do you realize the ramifications? I think not.

[c6vkuNRg]

Appalling dishonesty... all you said was "non-lawyers offering legal advice", not "non-lawyers claiming to be a lawyer". Just admit you wrote something false... Gribbler's been chomping at the bit since MikeH PWNT himself. Don't you have something better to do?

Adults are trying to have a discussion.