Stolen Valor Act Case Study

In the year 2011, 39-year-old Abel Fields attended a city meeting about public safety. During the meeting, he presented a speech where he falsely claimed that he had eight years of military experience and was rewarded the Purple Heart. Because of his lies, he was convicted under the Stolen Valor Act and found guilty, sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000. In his case before the Supreme Court, Fields argued that the Stolen Valor Act was unconstitutional, and that his right to free speech had been violated. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Fields' favor, but the government appealed the decision to the Supreme Court because, according to the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, these fraudulent claims "damage the reputation and meaning of

Tejinder Singh, writer and contributor of Scotus, argues that the stolen Valor Act is "unconstitutional because the government had not shown that the statute is necessary to protect the integrity of the system of military honors . . . [and] the Stolen Valor Act posed a significant—and perhaps unique—threat to protected speech." On the contrary, the Stolven Valor Act does not violate the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment, but instead enforces the appreciation of our soldiers. If Fields had been convicted because he preached that he deserved the Purple Heart and contributed as much as an eight-year veteran of the military, then the Stolven Valor Act would have violated his First Amendment rights because he would be denied to publically share his opinion, and thus denied his freedom of

who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action." By falsely claiming to have earned such a prestigious award, Fields reveals that he is attempting to gain the respect and honor associated with the Purple Heart. Furthermore, many veterans receive military discounts in various restaurants and other businesses out of respect for their feats. Although this was not the case since Fields was not applying this claim to a monetary benefit, there is still a reputable benefit that accompanies the claim. Moreover, The Telegraph informs us that approximately 600 U.S. soliders die from their military feats every year, averaging out at approximately two every day. Comparatively, Journeyman Editor YahwehSaves informs us that relatively 1,910,162 Purple Hearts have been awarded as of June 5, 2010. By putting himself among the ranks of these devoted soldiers, Fields belittles the soldiers and the soldiers' families dedication and contribution to our country and diminishes the virtue of our nation as a