Posted on Jul 5, 2015
Stolen Valor Act goes into effect on Wednesday. Your honest thoughts?
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BIRMINGHAM, AL
You've probably seen YouTube videos of real soldiers calling out fake soldiers who tried to use the uniform for financial gain.
In Alabama, that soon could cost you. A new bill goes into effect Wednesday that would punish someone who's caught doing this.
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/29437503/stolen-valor-act-goes-into-effect-on-wednesday
You've probably seen YouTube videos of real soldiers calling out fake soldiers who tried to use the uniform for financial gain.
In Alabama, that soon could cost you. A new bill goes into effect Wednesday that would punish someone who's caught doing this.
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/29437503/stolen-valor-act-goes-into-effect-on-wednesday
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Stolen Valor
Law
Stolen Valor Law
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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SGT (Join to see) We hate to see the fakers out in the street, but this will likely get struck down by 1st Amendment concerns even with the phrasing for 'material gain'. It may have to be more restrictive and be tied to a specific dollar amount. I am happy to see AL is putting the servicemembers and veterans first.
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SGT (Join to see)
LTC John Shaw, I hate to hear that. If nothing can be done, it's not worth the time to confront them.
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PO1 John Miller
Well, if the law won't be enforced we can still help out these posers and publicly shame them!
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SGT (Join to see)
PO1 John Miller, I agree, but it is disheartening to post all the posers I've posted, and nothing serious done about it. But, public shame is a form of punishment.
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SSG Donald Mceuen
Sometimes hard work goes unseen.
Thank you for your work .SGT Bodine keep on doing what you do..
Thank you for your work .SGT Bodine keep on doing what you do..
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For good or bad, these State laws are still governed by the First Amendment. I hope they get them right the first time.
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It's about time that states started passing Stolen Valor laws! The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 just isn't enough.
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SGT (Join to see)
PO1 John Miller, the first thing needed is for the law to enforce the Stolen Valor thief. IMHO, if the posers begin seeing the law is being enforced, they may stop doing it. But, then, you always have the stupid continuing to be stupid.
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PO1 John Miller
SGT (Join to see)
One can only hope the law will be enforced, but I see this being challenged under the First Amendment as LTC John Shaw stated. Notice the JD at the end of his name, so he has a better understanding of the law than I do!
One can only hope the law will be enforced, but I see this being challenged under the First Amendment as LTC John Shaw stated. Notice the JD at the end of his name, so he has a better understanding of the law than I do!
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I think it is a great Law, why should one be allowed to portray being a Military Veteran when they haven't served?
Why should those who steal our Valor be allowed to suck up the same benefits those of us who have sacrificed our lives and time get without being punished severely for it??
We have brothers and sisters in Arms who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country and left behind families who still hurt and for anyone to spit on this by shamefully throwing on one of our Uniforms (often worn incorrectly at that) and going around pretending that they've earned the right to do so is a pure disgrace.
The penalties should be greater, it should be a 10,000 fine and up to 3 years in prison along with being ordered to pay back any benefits they accumulated while "pretending" to be a Veteran.
We need to send a message out there to others who may try this and make an example of those who have already been caught so that we will discourage others from attempting to do the same.
Why should those who steal our Valor be allowed to suck up the same benefits those of us who have sacrificed our lives and time get without being punished severely for it??
We have brothers and sisters in Arms who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country and left behind families who still hurt and for anyone to spit on this by shamefully throwing on one of our Uniforms (often worn incorrectly at that) and going around pretending that they've earned the right to do so is a pure disgrace.
The penalties should be greater, it should be a 10,000 fine and up to 3 years in prison along with being ordered to pay back any benefits they accumulated while "pretending" to be a Veteran.
We need to send a message out there to others who may try this and make an example of those who have already been caught so that we will discourage others from attempting to do the same.
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC Brian Ewing, That is all of our goals. We've got to put some teeth in these Stolen Valor laws. Until that happens stolen valor will never be stopped.
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CW3 Jim Norris
What are the unintended consequences for enforcement? Shouldn't we worry more about violent crime, property crime and such? We can't keep DUI's in jail and they endanger the public. I wear my uniform proudly on the 4th of July and when asked to for Boy Scout functions and such.....but the petty act of trying to be something you're not should be publicly shameful and mocked.....there is no imprisonment worthy act here, unlike the silly bastards that impersonate police officers.....who was that silly NBA player that was caught doing that?
I understand the anger that goes with some of the comments, but I don't think that my fallen friends would want the US to become such a country.....border line fascism?
I understand the anger that goes with some of the comments, but I don't think that my fallen friends would want the US to become such a country.....border line fascism?
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SFC Brian Ewing
CW3 Jim Norris - I don't believe anyone here is suggesting we ignore violent crime by stating the obvious that something needs to be done about these Stolen Valor Offenders.
We understand that you are trying to imply that there are far more serious things for our law enforcement officers to consider but if we do nothing then we are setting or allowing a new standard to exist.
Policing people who impersonate others isn't something new, therefore it isn't a Fascist idea to include the new "fake" cops aka those who are impersonating Military Servicemen and Servicewomen.
No one is suggesting that they do life in prison for this infraction but if they have fraudulently acquired benefits from their fake foray into portraying a Servicemember then that is a crime because they ripped someone off of something with Monetary Value attached to it.
Is it ok for a person to steal money from others?? Don't get it twisted, those who fake military service are doing this when they usurp benefits not acquired through actually having served.
We understand that you are trying to imply that there are far more serious things for our law enforcement officers to consider but if we do nothing then we are setting or allowing a new standard to exist.
Policing people who impersonate others isn't something new, therefore it isn't a Fascist idea to include the new "fake" cops aka those who are impersonating Military Servicemen and Servicewomen.
No one is suggesting that they do life in prison for this infraction but if they have fraudulently acquired benefits from their fake foray into portraying a Servicemember then that is a crime because they ripped someone off of something with Monetary Value attached to it.
Is it ok for a person to steal money from others?? Don't get it twisted, those who fake military service are doing this when they usurp benefits not acquired through actually having served.
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I have been following the stolen Valor issue for years. It has been eye-opening and sickening. The cases I see and follow are usually pretty extreme. What I have seen is that Stolen Valor is usually the tip of the iceberg. There are very few cases that are prosecuted because most DAs don't feel its worth their time, and it has been a Federal, not a state law. Unless the person has committed wide-scale fraud the only thing that ever happens is public shaming. If they do go to court they are tried and convicted of other crimes, not stolen Valor Itself.
The States SHOULD all enact simular well-worded laws. In my opinion we should have a federal law that is in line with what Australia has. If you wear a military uniform and try to pass yourself off as a military member or veteran it is no different than pretending to be a policeman. They call it "Unlawful representation as an Officer of the Commonwealth".
The States SHOULD all enact simular well-worded laws. In my opinion we should have a federal law that is in line with what Australia has. If you wear a military uniform and try to pass yourself off as a military member or veteran it is no different than pretending to be a policeman. They call it "Unlawful representation as an Officer of the Commonwealth".
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SGT (Join to see)
1stSgt Eugene Harless, I've been hoping the punishment will begin making a statement to the people committing stolen valor. From what I've seen the most punishment I've seen is a few months to fewer years. The ones who get busted for fraud and theft get punished but not enough in my book to have a real threat to it. I think the worst one I published was a young boy who collected money for disabled Vetetans and some sleaze ball stole it from him him. Here's a good site for sleaze balls.
http://www.fakewarriors.org/phonies/phonies1306.htm
http://www.fakewarriors.org/phonies/phonies1306.htm
Accusations of Fraud Appear to Crash Website of Group Claiming to Support ... TheBlaze.com A website purporting to help Navy SEALs was downed Thursday and again Friday after The Special Operations Forces Report website — SOFREP.com — made some bombshell charges that the site – SupportTheSEALs.org – is not a legitimate non-profit ...
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Limited law is good enough for a civil society, no law is capable of governing a uncivil society. We live in a uncivil society.
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