Green Light to Steal Valor

Well the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is at it again. They have determined that it is unconstitutional to ban people from lying about their military service such as making claims a medal was granted when it was not. This notoriously liberal court struck down the Stolen Valor Act by a 2-1 vote. According to FoxNews, they claim "the law was a violation of his free-speech rights" and that "there's no evidence that such lies harm anybody". Obviously as leftists they despise the military, and fail to see how this robs soldiers of the full value of the recognition of their honorable service.

Value is closely related to rarity. By having people make false claims of valor without any accountability, the number of honored people rises artificially. Many honors in other fields are obtained by hard work or work of outstanding quality. In military honor, it is granted by placing one's life on the line to varying degrees in the service of our country. We do not honor our brave soldiers with outstanding pay, but instead give them something of value. Allowing people to make false claims of valor cheapens what we do bestow on them.