Week 3 EOC: Stolen Valor

The stolen valor act I think is a very important thing to those who have helped our country. I feel as if those who do make them self’s out to be something they are not, because I do have family who served for our country. I take it very serious just like what Joe Heck had stated. "We must defend the valor of those who have served our country, especially those men and women who have earned awards for outstanding service, but that we also must protect the very liberties for which our service men and women sacrificed," said Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nevada” (http://articles.cnn.com/2012-07-10/politics/politics_congress-stolen-valor-law_1_stolen-valor-act-free-speech-picketing-military-funerals)I I think the fact that some people don’t think that they deserve criminal punishment. That to me is just ridiculous for people to think that they are acting as if they are someone important when they are not. According to this statement “Any false statement claiming receipt of a medal may be punished. These critics suggest the best remedy for such false statements is not criminal punishment but more speech, particularly truthful speech to expose the lie.” (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0222/Stolen-Valor-Act-at-Supreme-Court-Is-lying-about-being-a-hero-a-right) Some don’t see what I am seeing in the situation. I don’t think exposing their lies will help with what they have done. All In all I don’t agree with people who lie about the service they have done or if they done any. I feel as if it is very un- justice for someone to do. I think the fact that people have to lie about things should be punished. They are cheating the law and what the law is there for. Even if we do have freedom of speech. I think the fact that we do have sites where you can report stolen valor’s is good because we can get the lies out about people and what they are doing. “AMVETS' intent as a leading veteran’s advocacy group is to protect the valor and honor of our true American heroes and the integrity of their hard-earned awards. ReportStolenValor.org is a new public awareness campaign initiated by concerned veterans to safeguard our proud culture and the values of our community. We accomplish this by presenting an accurate and reliable tool to educate concerned citizens about the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 and help facilitate the reporting of suspected Stolen Valor offenders to federal authorities and the news media. “The mission statement from http://www.reportstolenvalor.org/about_us which I think is every important in people using stolen valor’s.