A man from Colorado who was masquerading as a hero had a lucky break with the federal judge who handled his case, according to a feature on the Navy Times.
Rick Glen Strandlof reportedly made claims that he was a former Marine who had been wounded while serving in Iraq. He said that he was the recipient of the Purple Heart and the Silver Star, but the military did not have any record that he was in the service. Because of this he was charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which stipulates that it was a crime to claim that one has won a military medal when it was untrue.
The case, however, was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn, who ruled the law was unconstitutional.
Stolen Valor Act Ruled as ?Unconstitutional? by Judge! | Navy SEALs Blog by USNavySEALs.com
Those that pose or make false claims do nothing but dishonor all those who have actually made the sacrifices and often times given their lives for this nation. It is is the lowest form of disrespect and for a Judge to see this act as a form of Free Speech when it is nothing short of theft is beyond me.
Rick Glen Strandlof reportedly made claims that he was a former Marine who had been wounded while serving in Iraq. He said that he was the recipient of the Purple Heart and the Silver Star, but the military did not have any record that he was in the service. Because of this he was charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which stipulates that it was a crime to claim that one has won a military medal when it was untrue.
The case, however, was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn, who ruled the law was unconstitutional.
Stolen Valor Act Ruled as ?Unconstitutional? by Judge! | Navy SEALs Blog by USNavySEALs.com
Those that pose or make false claims do nothing but dishonor all those who have actually made the sacrifices and often times given their lives for this nation. It is is the lowest form of disrespect and for a Judge to see this act as a form of Free Speech when it is nothing short of theft is beyond me.