File photo of the Medal of Honor prior to President Barack Obama awarding it to Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, 23, from Greensburg, Ky. in 2011 (© Charles Dharapak/AP)

Supreme Court to rule on right to lie about military honors

22 Feb 2012 17:05:19 GMT

In 2007, Xavier Alvarez introduced himself at a board meeting as a former Marine who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor. He wasn't and didn't. Alvarez was convicted of violating the Stolen Valor Act, a 2006 law designed to punish those who lie about earning military medals. The conviction was deemed unconstitutional by a California appeals court.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on the legality of the law, deciding whether it violates Americans' rights to free speech. "If false factual statements are unprotected, then the government can prosecute [...] the dentist who assures you it won't hurt a bit," 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Alex Kozinski told NPR.

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Should lying about military medals be considered a crime?

164Comments

Newest

Apr 6, 2012 4:42PM

righttomyopinionbub

you obviously have never served in the military or in combat. you will never understand the words valor and honor.

Previous replies

td49

Feb 23, 2012 11:48PM

not only yes but hell yes, these pricks take away from real heros, they should lose everything

Previous replies

TheGForce

Feb 23, 2012 7:48AM

RightToMyOpinionBub,

A decendent who wears Grandpa's medals should be arrested! Grandpa's medals belong on Grandpa or in a shadow box on the family room wall. As far as actors being arrested... stop being silly. This is a serious issue. Wearing false medals is not a form of exercising your right to free speech.

Previous replies

Jane and Danny S

Feb 23, 2012 7:07AM

Yeah, Right...! "What I would really DO", you write in your comment about events that I'm sure did NOT happen. It simply doesn't happen the way you say it went down. As a serving "Mustang" with almost 34 years as an enlisted war fighter, senior NCO, and now senior officer, with a lot of combat time (who doesn't these days), your comments don't hold water, they lack the kind of detail a Vet is sure to use when he or she's pissed-off and venting or telling a real "war story", and are just the kind of crap this law is about. Can't you people who are steeling this honor simply stop the lying...! We, the military who are covering this nation's butt, and by the way feel absolutely honored for the opportunity to do so, have room for just one more Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine, and plenty of fighting to go around - sign up, do your time, cover your arcs, take your targets... and keep your trap shut!

Previous replies

papa2five

Feb 23, 2012 7:06AM

No. You don't throw his lowlife **** in jail. He did not hurt anyone. He does dishonor to himself for trying to steal the honor due men who showed the real highest level of heroism. His pathetic life just got worse forever whether he goes to jail or not. Hope it teaches a lesson to all who try this in the future.

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pacific beach

Feb 23, 2012 6:42AM

The aforementioned topic is very sad. It is impossible for me to comprehend any person to falsely, and in public, lay claim to military service when they did not perform it. It is also impossible for me to comprehend that such a claim may be considered unlawful, and therefore a crime, punishable by imprisonment.

I honor veterans, and I do everything I can on their behalf. I chauffer them to their V. A. hospitals (American Lake, Tacoma, Wa), make repairs around their homes (if these are too much of a struggle for them), keep them company when necessary, and above all else, monitor their emotional temperament (a symptom of PTSD).

From time to time, even a veteran takes some "poetic license" as they attempt to describe their endeavors, on or off the battlefield. This does not offend me because I understand that is human nature to embellish their life story. I also understand that it is human nature to make attempts to make false statements about their lives, especially if their lives are empty from meaning and purpose.

Everyone has to right to speak, as well as everyone has to the right to walk away from any conversation that hints of false bravado. I would hope that it does not take a court of law to decide the issue of free speech. America, at this point in time, has far more serious issues to worry about.

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Gyrob

Feb 23, 2012 6:35AM

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."[1] Due to the nature of its criteria, it is often awarded posthumously (more than half have been since 1941).[4]

Members of all branches of the armed forces are eligible to receive the medal, and there are three versions (one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard). The Medal of Honor is then presented to the recipient or, for posthumous awards, to next of kin. The President of the United States presents the medal in person, on behalf of the Congress, representing and recognizing the gratitude of the American people as a whole. Due to its honored status, the medal is afforded special protection under U.S. law.[5]

The Medal of Honor is one of two military neck order awards issued by the United States and is the sole neck order awarded to members of the armed forces (the Commander's Degree of the Legion of Merit is a neck order but it is only authorized for issue to foreign dignitaries).[6]

As the award citation includes the phrase "in the name of Congress", it is sometimes erroneously called the Congressional Medal of Honor; however, the official title is simply the Medal of Honor.

Previous replies

govgoon

Feb 23, 2012 6:19AM

An awful lot of "sensitive" and outraged people out there, thumping their chests, waving their flags, deeply offended by this douche bag pseudo hero. As if it matters. War is oftentimes hell on earth, and to children it is horror itself. The problem is WAR itself, were we send our citizen soldiers off to foreign shores to KILL in the name of some obscure truth. In Iraq there were at least 125,000 civilian casualies of which tens of thousands were thorougly innocent children. Children, heads blown off, limbs scattered, incinerated to ash, existence ended. Why? GW's proud justification was that, "He tried to kill my daddy"! And yet we didn't see GW rushing over there risking all fighting with his boys. I have lots of friends who served with distinction, as do the vast majority of vets in war or peacetime, and those who have come back from Iraq don't swell their chests out about it. One in particular, highly decorated, who personally acknowledges killing women and children with great regret is seeking faith as a conduit for forgiveness. All the medals on earth will provide no defense when you stand before god as a killer of children. Nation of heros? Perhaps. Nation of abject cowards and finger pointers? For real.