roblem:
This is an important constitutional issue of the balance between freedom of speech under the first amendment and the government interest in protecting and the meaning of military honors, like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I believe that those who serve in the military would take this very seriously and as an insult to their service and all that applies within. The sacrifices that they had to make. The point here is that not all lies are crimes. To be a crime a lie would have to involve fraud, defamation or harm. Back in 2012 the Supreme Court addressed the same issue in United States v. Alvarez where a man lied about receiving a medal of Honor. The court ruled that it was unconstitutional because it criminalized mere false speech without showing harm or intent to defraud. Lying about military honors is dishonorable, but the first amendment even protects offensive and false speech. Can you think of ways that the Act can be amended so that it furthers the interest of the Act, without infringing on freedom of speech? To preserve the government's interest while respecting the Constitution, Congress could modify the Stolen Valor Act to: To make it illegal. Need Assignment Help?