• Pretending to be a war hero to get laid is now legal.
    54 replies, posted
[quote="[url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100716/ap_on_re_us/us_military_medals_impostors]source[/url]"]DENVER – A law that makes it illegal to lie about being a war hero is unconstitutional because it violates free speech, a federal judge ruled Friday as he dismissed a case against a Colorado man who claimed he received two military medals. Rick Glen Strandlof claimed he was an ex-Marine who was wounded in Iraq and received the Purple Heart and Silver Star, but the military had no record he ever served. He was charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to falsely claim to have won a military medal. U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn dismissed the case and said the law is unconstitutional, ruling the government did not show it has a compelling reason to restrict that type of statement. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney in Denver said prosecutors are reviewing the decision and haven't decided whether to appeal. The spokesman said that decision would be made by the U.S. Justice Department in Washington and prosecutors in Denver. Strandlof's lawyer, Bob Pepin, said he hadn't spoken to Strandlof since the ruling was issued. Pepin said he would advise Strandlof not to comment publicly because the case might be appealed. "Obviously, we think this is the right decision, or we wouldn't have been making the objections to the statute to begin with," he said. Pepin said Strandlof has been living in a halfway house in Denver while his case is in the courts. The law has also been challenged in California and in a case now before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Denver attorney Christopher P. Beall, who filed a friend-of-the-court brief for the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, said the Stolen Valor Act is fatally flawed because it doesn't require prosecutors to show anyone was harmed or defamed by the lie. "The government position was that any speech that's false is not protected by the First Amendment. That proposition is very dangerous," Beall said. "It puts the government in a much more powerful position to prosecute people for speaking out on things they believe to be true but turn out not to be true," he said. Beall said the ACLU was not defending the actions Strandlof is accused of, but took issue with the principle behind the law. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., who sponsored the Stolen Valor Act in the House, predicted the decision will be overturned on appeal. "This is an issue of fraud plain and simple," Salazar said in a written release. "The individuals who violate this law are those who knowingly portray themselves as pillars of the community for personal and monetary gain." Pam Sterner, who as a college student wrote a policy analysis that became the basis of Salazar's bill, said the issue isn't free speech but misrepresentation. Sterner, a former Coloradan who now lives in Virginia, said authentic medal winners' credibility suffers when impostors are exposed because the public becomes suspicious of even true stories of heroism.[/quote] And Linelor rejoices. :smug:
What the fuck they actually had a law for that?
I don't think you should go to jail for stolen honor, just a hefty fine.
"Yeah, i flew a jet full of nukes into a taliban space station, blew them all up with a desert eagle with explosive rounds and jumped back down to earth just as the space station exploded, so shut up and fuck me :smug:"
You should get fined when you put it on your resume or receive money for it. Otherwise it's free speech.
did linelor ever get laid or what
Damn, I thought it was a good law too.
I hate people who do shit like this.. although I know a few people in the Air Force who'll claim they're pilots to get laid it's still no excuse.. But civilians lying about this stuff is really messed up.
Being a war hero myself, I find it disgraceful that someone would lie about it. [editline]03:01PM[/editline] I killed fi'ty men.
Who the fuck would do this anyway
[QUOTE=SteelReal;23431525]I don't think you should go to jail for stolen honor, just a hefty fine.[/QUOTE] "Don't tread on me" says the guy advocating the restriction of free speech you libertarians for real or what
Ahaha, that's funny as hell.
[quote]"The individuals who violate this law are those who knowingly portray themselves as pillars of the community for personal and monetary gain."[/quote] I have no problem understanding this argument except for one thing: What's the gain? What money do I get if I tell someone I won a medal? What 'personal' gain is there? If you are going to lend me money, but only because I won a medal, then isn't on YOU to verify my qualifications? If you are going to give me a job, sex, or even just buy me a beer because you think I won a medal then that's your problem. If you can't verify someone's medal, then you shouldn't be giving perks to them, unless you are willing to just take their word at your own risk.
[QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;23431981]I have no problem understanding this argument except for one thing: What's the gain? What money do I get if I tell someone I won a medal? What 'personal' gain is there? If you are going to lend me money, but only because I won a medal, then isn't on YOU to verify my qualifications? If you are going to give me a job, sex, or even just buy me a beer because you think I won a medal then that's your problem. If you can't verify someone's medal, then you shouldn't be giving perks to them, unless you are willing to just take their word at your own risk.[/QUOTE] I've had people pay for my meal without even walking up to me and asking if I was military. Most people figure it out some way or another (uniform, talking about it, government id) and they'll thank you or something else like pay for your meal. That's very kind, but someone who's making up stories to pretend they are military isn't right.
[QUOTE=JeffmA;23432120]I've had people pay for my meal without even walking up to me and asking if I was military. Most people figure it out some way or another (uniform, talking about it, government id) and they'll thank you or something else like pay for your meal. That's very kind, but someone who's making up stories to pretend they are military isn't right.[/QUOTE] It's not like their doing it is going to stop you from getting your free shit so I don't see what right you have to complain.
I've covered wars you know :smug:
I'm now an american war hero, even though I'm 18 and european. :patriot:
What a douche move. Lying about being a war hero is pretty low. But I guess it is free speech.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;23431797]"Don't tread on me" says the guy advocating the restriction of free speech you libertarians for real or what[/QUOTE] Believe me, I've thought about the confliction. But it seems too wrong to go unpunished. These people risked their lives in combat and for people to try to achieve personal gain, it's just wrong.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;23431797]"Don't tread on me" says the guy advocating the restriction of free speech you libertarians for real or what[/QUOTE] Don't start generalizing this idiot to all libertarians. On topic, just because there's a nationalist military (read fascist) culture in the US, it doesn't justify punishing someone for "stealing their valor". Valor is a purely imaginary construct that, while it has its uses, is nothing but personal preference and fanboyism (if that's a word). [editline]12:54AM[/editline] [QUOTE=SteelReal;23432225]Believe me, I've thought about the confliction. But it seems too wrong to go unpunished. These people risked their lives in combat and for people to try to achieve personal gain, it's just wrong.[/QUOTE] This is why morals are useless. "Well, my gutfeeling is just too strong, so I support putting this man into a tiny cage for a significant part of his life."
[QUOTE=thisispain;23431551]did linelor ever get laid or what[/QUOTE] It was all part of his "experiment" which is bullshit since he never de-breifed us.
[QUOTE=Lenni;23432627]Don't start generalizing this idiot to all libertarians. On topic, just because there's a nationalist military (read fascist) culture in the US, it doesn't justify punishing someone for "stealing their valor". Valor is a purely imaginary construct that, while it has its uses, is nothing but personal preference and fanboyism (if that's a word). [editline]12:54AM[/editline] This is why morals are useless. "Well, my gutfeeling is just too strong, so I support putting this man into a tiny cage for a significant part of his life."[/QUOTE] .....Supporting ones soldiers is fascist?
[QUOTE=Lenni;23432627]Don't start generalizing this idiot to all libertarians. On topic, just because there's a nationalist military (read fascist) culture in the US, it doesn't justify punishing someone for "stealing their valor". Valor is a purely imaginary construct that, while it has its uses, is nothing but personal preference and fanboyism (if that's a word). [editline]12:54AM[/editline] This is why morals are useless. "Well, my gutfeeling is just too strong, so I support putting this man into a tiny cage for a significant part of his life."[/QUOTE] Welcome to the forums, you'll fit in just fine around here.
[QUOTE=SteelReal;23432225]Believe me, I've thought about the confliction. But it seems too wrong to go unpunished. These people risked their lives in combat and for people to try to achieve personal gain, it's just wrong.[/QUOTE] Failed republican right here folks.
Isn't the concept of Valor in and of itself a bid at personal gain? It's wrong to give someone benefits based on whether or not they tell you they've gotten medals. Judge someone by their character, not their achievements.
[QUOTE=Regulas021;23433970].....Supporting ones soldiers is fascist?[/QUOTE] Yes. [i]Especially[/i] when you start putting people to jail over it. [editline]02:59AM[/editline] [QUOTE=SteelReal;23434020]Welcome to the forums, you'll fit in just fine around here.[/QUOTE] Why am I not surprised that you project significance onto "belonging" to an internet-forum? [editline]03:04AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Grim Joker;23434290]Isn't the concept of Valor in and of itself a bid at personal gain? It's wrong to give someone benefits based on whether or not they tell you they've gotten medals. Judge someone by their character, not their achievements.[/QUOTE] You could define valor as being part of ones character. But in the same sense as having sex with someone because they say "I'm awesome" and not because they behave that way, it may not be a good idea to sleep with someone who say they've got medals.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;23432143]It's not like their doing it is going to stop you from getting your free shit so I don't see what right you have to complain.[/QUOTE] I just see it as disrespectful. I could care less if I actually got free shit, and I feel slightly uncomfortable when I do.
[QUOTE=JeffmA;23435472]I just see it as disrespectful. [B]I could care less[/B] if I actually got free shit, and I feel slightly uncomfortable when I do.[/QUOTE] could you care less about this [img]http://www.chicks-dig-scars.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Caring_Continuum.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Lenni;23434824]Why am I not surprised that you project significance onto "belonging" to an internet-forum?[/QUOTE] I was implying that you will fit in with most facepunchers as 90% of the members are liberals.
[QUOTE=The mouse;23431787]Who the fuck would do this anyway[/QUOTE] You'd be fucking surprised how many posers there are out there. Hell some of them don't even do it just to get laid, they just do it for attention. Law or no law now, I wouldn't recommend anyone doing it. Apart from being a complete asshole for doing so, Navy SEALS and Army Rangers have a reputation for taking matters into their own hands when they find particularly loud posers.
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