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Thursday, February 25, 2010
You can go to jail for bragging about military medals you didn’t really earn. Is that fair?
A 3-year-old federal law makes it a crime — punishable by up to a year in jail — to falsely claim to have received a military medal, even if the liar isn’t trying to profit by the lie. Critics say the law bans exaggerating one’s accomplishments, which amounts to banning free speech. What do you think?
ROBERT WELLMAN, Beavercreek: “Being ex-military, I think you should only get what medals are coming to you. Why would you go around saying you got medals you didn’t? But there’s too much law banning people from doing all kinds of things now, so I’m not in favor of this law.”
DEE GRACE, Fairborn: “I think the free-speech issue is a bigger deal. People lie every day — ‘Hey, I’m Janet Jackson!’ I don’t think it’s a crime. But if they’re impersonating someone who has received these honors, that should be a crime.”
JOYCE TIGHE, Enon: “There should be some consequence, but I would say a lot depends on the circumstances. If they’re being silly and talking with friends, that’s one thing, But if they’re saying they’ve got medals and maybe they haven’t even been in the military, that’s different.”
KATHY KELLER, Waynesville: “It should be a crime if you lie about having a medal, no matter what. That’s a privilege, to earn any kind of medal through the military.”
OTTIE STANKUS, Riverside: “If somebody’s profiting from the lie, they should be prosecuted. But it someone doesn’t, I don’t think they should be prosecuted.”
RON CLAXTON, Columbus: “I think it’s outrageous to incarcerate someone for something like that. The idea that what you say can be used against you has gotten out of hand.”
GREG SHEPPARD, Columbus: “I think it’s a good law. But I don’t think you should like about any type of government issues.”
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