9th Circuit Rules Stolen Valor Act is Unconstitutional Based On The First Amendment

[playaz1180]

Lying is not the base of this case or the focus of the argument. The word Fraud needs to be the focus with the Stolen Valor Act. In this case the man used it for monetary and professional gain. There is no protection for fraud. Get away from the word lie, and seek where the lie leads to understand the legality of the matter. I don't care if you wear an award as a costume but the moment you say you earned it without service, I feel should be a crime. Identity theft is a crime.

[forgottenfuture1105]

I'm going to take the actual ASVAB with my friend in July I think he said

I'm going to the Marine Corps

My practice ASVAB's were all way above average so I'm confident I will have the honor to serve

My family has a very honorable service history

Army,Navy,Air Force Thrice,Coast Guard

So I will be the first Marine in my family lineage

To have people believe that lying about medals is ok I fucking despise you

I have had friends come home and kill themselves from these wars

My uncle is a damn

[Charley151]

Freedom of speech absolutely gives you the right to lie in certain context and it should remain that way. If you say you're a fighter pilot to pick up girls or just act tough that's absolutely protected speech if you're doing it in front of a crowd to make them think you're something your not that's 100% PROTECTED SPEECH. Lying on an application or other document is a different matter, I'm confident the Supreme Court will overturn this act. I agree it is an outrage to lie about military service.

[JOHNNYSschool]

I am a Iraq vet and u can't throw a guy in jail for lieing if you could there wouldn't be a goverment.... Hahahahahaha we was exposed to DU and gulf war syndrome is real and the DOD still lies about it they arnt in jail? Now if some one puts the metal on there chest I would knock there teeth out.. But a drink guy lieing at a bar or trying to pick up a chick how far do u take that law???

[TheSilentcarnage]

I am a National Guard two time Iraqi Veteran. I am proud of what I have accomplished and could not agree with you more. To say that a lie about Military service is an outrage.

[TheSilentcarnage]

I am a National Guard two time Iraqi Veteran. I am proud of what I have accomplished and could not agree with you more. To say that a lie about Military service is an outrage. You are correct, it will go to the supreme court and hopefully brighter minds will see the light once it does. All my best brother

[steveo1274]

I dont think its a bad thing hense the first amendment right to free speech good and bad or its not FREE speech.

[troydooly]

@steveo1274 Let me make sure I understand. You do not feel it is a "bad thing" to lie? At the end of the day this is about a person lying for personal gain! This is not about "Freedom of Speech!

[rebelchamp93]

HOORAH MARINE! SEMPER FI! Perfectly said

[errman2]

to start with yeah in the military everything is earned not givin so it would relly piss me off to see someone fakeing valor..i know that everybody wants to get that i did something for my country feeling but to fake something just gets me sick

[Hincesti07]

Their are a ton of these sick bastards here on You Tube, their are even 18 years old American kids claiming to be Russian forces on You Tube being a liar is not even a worried about by these losers.

One real low life stolen valor jack ass on you tube is MrLockandload, this ass hole is a Montana domestic terrorist.

[lettertee1]

who is the governer of chicago. dude you have to edit that really fast. please i am tired of being called a stupid american ,and thats really bad that you said that. chicago is a city not a state. im sure its just a oversight but please fix it.

[dodgercrew1006]

I've been watching all the videos about stolen valor and it's quite disturbing, shameful and striaght out pathethic that individuals would lie to the American people about serving in the military or recieving medals in which you did not. I'm forever a Marine brat but I'm a US Soldier currently deployed in Asia. I've been in for 2 years now and I'm proud of my acomplishments. If you have served, the first things they teach you in Boot Camp is "Doing the right thing even when no one is looking!"

[corvette200101]

you are absolutely right, i am serving now, have been in for over 21 years. the first medal i ever earned was the army achievement medal from korea in 1990.served in the gulf war and iraq and afghanistan. i am with you. it takes a lot of hard work to earn something. thats we servicemen(women) take pride in our service careers and what we have earned.

[311chanman]

What would happen if you faked a college degree? I bet you would be in deep shit for faking something liberals believe in so much. They think college is the end all be all. To fake a degree from harvard would definitely constitute prison time i bet.

[89andyman]

good video

[nofxmike06]

Civilians posing as veterans who lie about their "service record" do it for monetary gain. However, don't send them to jail; make them pay a fine which is directly proportional to the money they've received on disability. Its a crime against the taxpayer when those people are receiving checks every month from the VA.

[kyletango]

I am a Vietnam Vet. just recently at my work place I had an individual tell me that they were special forces sniper in Vietnam with 20 kills. I did not let them know that i was also a VN vet. But I detected so many lies and inaccuracies. He didn't even know what Dinky Dau meant. I doubt that there is a VN vet anywhere that doesn't know the meaning.

[BlacktailDefense]

This is more than just a slap in the face --- the truly frightening aspects of rulings like this one are the *legal precedents* they set.

If a law against falsely portraying oneself as a person potentially entitled to veteran's benefits is "unconstitutional" (under the 1st Amendment) is that legal precedent, for the use of the 1st Amendment as justification for falsely obtaining OTHER benefits (like Social Security)? How about if they use overlapping false identities --- say, a FEW THOUSAND?

[jedimastercavanaugh]

I'm not a Veteran and nor will i ever tell(lie)anyone that i was in battle or served in the military or got medals that i did not, I think it is a shameful act by any non-military or non-veteran. I am not shamed by the thought that i did not serve, but i respect those who did and I thank them all, my brother, my cousin, my uncle and my grandfather Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines, US Coastgaurd, National Guard, I am proud to be an American, and proud of those who served Thank You.

[TheJarhead70]

O.K. Cowards can claim to be members of the military? Does that include the prvileledge of wearing the military uniform too? The 9th Circus rules as a liberal group - no concern for the law. Does the 9th Circus allow goofs to fake being judges, FBI Agents, lawyers, etc.? What a tradegy.

Dale R. Suiter

SGT USMC

CAPT USA (Ret)

[Just1Spark]

Its unconstitutional because the government isnt there to defend your feelings. Thats what the Stolen Valor Act is for. To defend your pride and protect your feelings from getting hurt. The military should know this better than anyone.

I agree it is a disgrace for someone to pretend to be former Mil. But as far as the Constitution lays it out, its not illegal to be a douchbag who lies about Mil service. Society puts these types of people in their place. Not the government.

[kraigthorne]

@Just1Spark You are right to some extent. If a person is faking heroics for personal gain (to get VA bennifits or a job) then they shold go to jail for fraud. If they are trying to impress a person, so their ego can be inflated then I agree with you 100%.

[Just1Spark]

@kraigthorne Absolutely. With financial fraud there is an injured party.

[ssgduke56]

Impersonate a Policeman and see what will happen to you if you get caught! But a wannbe excuse of a human being can wear my Uniform and gets away with it because it is CALLED FREE SPEECH?!! This shows the court and the stupid Judge don't give a frack about those who are in the Military!!!

[tboy221]

the Marine Corps has a word that is part of the 14 leadership traits. we call it integrity. some people need to find some integrity and stop fucking. others over

[tboy221]

i read the comments and i too have lied on sit-up day of a couple. but by doing that i only hurt myself. it doesnt hurt anyone else. and lying to bring in the bad guy is protecting the people he will eventually hurt. but lying about awards and military service hurts the people you lie to. it doesnt hurt you. it hurts the economy, veterans that trully need help and the people that put forth the effort to help the needy. lying to get benefits you never earned hurts others and helps you. semper fi

[getemhi]

I agree with you. However I am an ex Marine whom has lied himself to make myself look good. Well.. as a Marine I already look good. Lets say...hmm... made myself look "better". I think what this guy did is wrong, but its no different from what I did. We all have done it. (Did you really to those 80 sit-ups? OR... did you do 79 and just said "80".) The problem is... where do you draw the line, and how? You can not say he is wrong without saying "I" am wrong, and "we" are wrong.

[budno1]

this guy is the man

[23PorkNBeans]

Once again, a group of "smart" people who end up looking silly.

All brains and no common sense equals no concept of reality and this is what we have here.

Semper Fi

[QuartetmanIA]

Troy, thank you for your video. You are absolutely correct that it is wrong to lie and it isn't an issue of free speech. I hope the Supreme Court of the United States once again overrules the 9th Circus Court. It's time we impeach these bastards.