Judge rules Stolen Valor is free speech

[Robb]

"Time to drop some red and blue lights in my vehicle, don a uniform and badge and do whatever the hell I want until the real law enforcement catches on. Freedom of speech!"

Well, ain't that a damn good point! On the surface, that seems to be the same thing.

[Monky]

"Time to drop some red and blue lights in my vehicle, don a uniform and badge and do whatever the hell I want until the real law enforcement catches on. Freedom of speech!"

Well, ain't that a damn good point! On the surface, that seems to be the same thing.

Dress like it all you want, put whatever you want in your car... Just don't break the law and try to use them for anything.


Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.

[Ronin13]

There is a reason we have rightfully earned uniforms in our society. It is a method of visual trust. With no penalty backing impersonation, a uniform is totally useless.

THIS! While it's all perfectly legal to pose as a military member (I see a bunch of stolen valor videos on the internet that really get my blood boiling), I wish it were also legal to dispense a little "justice" on these guys.

[Hound]

X2 If I saw somebody wearing dolphins who had not earned them, then get shot, it would be difficult to render assistance in any form. I bet I am not alone in the feeling.

To be clear, I'm not advocating shooting anybody.

There is a reason we have rightfully earned uniforms in our society. It is a method of visual trust. With no penalty backing impersonation, a uniform is totally useless.

[Ronin13]

X2 If I saw somebody wearing dolphins who had not earned them, then get shot, it would be difficult to render assistance in any form. I bet I am not alone in the feeling.

To be clear, I'm not advocating shooting anybody.

More likely would be a Trident... in which case I would incessantly berate them if they had not actually earned the coveted Trident.

[davsel]

Years ago, a good friend of mine gave my girlfriend/wife #2 an old leather motorcycle jacket and a SF pin he wanted her to wear on it - he was a Vietnam era Green Beret Colonel.
She was asked about it a couple of times by SF members, but never a problem as she never claimed to have earned it, and told the story of where it came from.
I have no problem with those who may wear pins or patches in memory of friends or family.

Claiming unearned awards is a different story.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

This is all exactly what the government wants. When laws contradict each other, they become ambiguous and winners and losers can be picked at random to make an example for the masses of the flavor of the day.

[HoneyBadger]

This is all exactly what the government wants. When laws contradict each other, they become ambiguous and winners and losers can be picked at random to make an example for the masses of the flavor of the day.

Nailed it. And this is applicable to a lot more than just stolen valor...

[ChadAmberg]

So does this mean it's also first amendment protected to walk around wearing a police badge?

[ray1970]

F**k it. I'm going to celebrate my first amendment rights by pretending to be a judge. We'll see how the courts like that one.