Stealing Valor - Stealing Heroism
The verdict is in – it’s just okee-dokee to wear medals you didn’t earn. Okee-dokee to wear a uniform you never served in. Okee-dokee to pawn yourself off as someone you aren’t.
Free speech. That’s what the courts said.
The 9th Circuit Court recently ruled that Stolen Valor is free speech, covered by the First Amendment.
The case at hand was a man convicted of the Stolen Valor law. He’d testified in a court case wearing a purple heart he didn’t earn. He appealed his conviction and won.
Heck, the Stolen Valor law only made it a misdemeanor to impersonate a hero anyway. It’s curious why this guy even appealed. I have a hunch it’s about the bigger move to undermine our military. But that’s a political topic I won’t get into here.
So, why am I even bringing it up?
First and foremost, because it matters. Secondly, it’s a topic that arises in True Valor, book 1 of the True Heroes series.