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| US Court: Wearing Unearned Military Medals Is Free Speech |
| 2016-01-12 |
| [ABSee] A federal appeals court on Monday tossed out a veteran's conviction for wearing military medals he didn't earn, saying it was a form of free speech protected by the Constitution. A specially convened 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the First Amendment allows people to wear unearned military honors. Elven Joe Swisher of Idaho was convicted in 2007 of violating the Stolen Valor Act, which made it a misdemeanor to falsely claim military accomplishments. President George W. Bush signed it into law in 2006, but the U.S. Supreme Court struck it down in 2012 as a violation of free speech protections. Investigators looked into Swisher's military claims after he testified at the 2005 trial of a man charged with soliciting the murder of a federal judge. Swisher wore a Purple Heart on the witness stand. Searching for my 'MEAL TEAM-6' photo, but can't seem to find it. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #7 Obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception America is "common law", so this most likely applies. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2016-01-12 18:59 |
| #6 ...and claiming to be a Federal judge is free speech too? As long as you're claiming to be a 9th Circus judge and wearing a clown suit, yes. |
| Posted by: gorb 2016-01-12 15:23 |
| #5 The 9th Circus strikes again. |
| Posted by: Gerthudion White4991 2016-01-12 13:54 |
| #4 ...and claiming to be a Federal judge is free speech too? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2016-01-12 13:16 |
| #3 Looks like a slippery slope. What happens when people declare they have paid their taxes even though they have not. Eh, we know how that would play out... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2016-01-12 12:56 |
| #2 If I falsely claim to be a doctor or a Harvard grad, that is actionable. Why should it be any different if I claim to be a medal of honor winner? |
| Posted by: Omusoter and Tenille8260 2016-01-12 12:51 |
| #1 Seems like theft and fraud to me. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2016-01-12 12:49 |