What does it hurt to wear a military uniform with medals on it?

Question

Read this article, so stupid.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-06-20-phony-war-heroes_x.htm

Basically, the article says, that if this new law becomes enforced, you could spend a year in jail/prison just for wearing a military uniform with medals on it. I want to hear some people's answers on what does it hurt? People should be able to wear what they want. Now if these people are using military recipients social security number along with the military uniforms and medals, then I see the problem.

Supposely, these people are dressing up like retired military recipients and going to funerals, banquets, and benefits.

I see no harm in attending a funeral. The banquets and the benefits probably offer food for the military recipients so all they would be getting is free food. So if they want to eliminate this problem, check social security numbers at the door. Don't throw someone in prison for wearing a uniform with medals on it.

Here is a funniest part that I read out of that article. The guy
that has been assigned to this case is Thomas Cottone. He is
a VIOLENT CRIMES INVESTIGATOR. Come on now people, smile on your
brother and lets try to get along some how.... But seriously,
do we really need a violent crimes investigator investigating
people wearing uniforms with medals on them. Couldn't they
assigned that one to the mildly retarded cop who beat the
police departments record on eating a dozen of donuts in
27 seconds.

One more thing, the act is going to be called, "The Stolen Valor Act".
One would expect this type of law to be made on the tv show, "Green Acres",
but in real life, please!!!! And what is stolen if someone wants "BUY".
I said, "BUY, BUY, BUY". They went to the internet and found someone
wanting to get rid of their uniform and medals because they needed
money for other things in life they would love to have before they
kick the big one.

Good thing I didn't make that bet a long time ago about how our
government would never make it a criminal offense just to wear
clothes. Someday they are going to make it a crime to wear
dirty clothes in public. Oh I forgot, they already have.
Who is the first suspects of a crime that has just been committed,
poor dirty people. That justice for you.

I forgot to mentioned one thing, what if a retarded person like Warren on "Theres Something About Mary" wants to dress up like a veteran and tell everyone he was in the military. I mean what does it hurt. Mentally challenged people don't have much to look forward to in life, why take one more thing away from their life that would keep them happy?

By the way, I don't buy and wear military uniforms, especially with medals on them.
I just thought it was kind of stupid regulating the uniforms and the medals in this fashion. I think using social security numbers is a better of controlling who is a soldier and who is not.

I have read through the comments that I have received so far and seen no supporters, so I am wrong in thinking like this. What I was thinking was so stupid was, using military uniforms and medals as a costume. Not really for Halloween, just someone that likes to wear that particular clothing. Probably what is best for these people that want to wear military uniforms is to go to a costume store and purchase a military uniform from them. However, since this is illegal, I think selling a military uniform should be illegal as well.

SO YOU COULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT AND WEAR WHAT YOU WANT AND GO WHERE YOU WANT.

This post goes out to boomboombily:

I didn't noticed what you typed before, but it is so very funny that you typed in that americans have the freedom to wear what they want. No they don't, they can't wear military uniforms with medals on them without being thrown in a crowded prison.

I mean, is the wearing of military uniforms worth sending someone to prison and consuming more people's tax dollars? I just don't see it as that big of a deal

It is not the uniform and medals that makes the person you are, it is the knowledge and the position that you hold that makes you as a person. Wearing a military uniform doesn't make you a soldier. And soldiers don't have to wear a military uniform to be a soldier. Soldiers are soldiers no matter what they are wearing. They can wear a milk man suit but still be a soldier.

Answer 1

Anyone should be able to wear what they want.

What about the children of veterans, who where their fathers uniform and medals as a sign of respect and march in their place at parades?

If you go around saying you personally won WW2, and you defeated the viet cong with your bare hands, that makes you a liar, not a criminal.

Answer 2

more than that. it is illegal to wear military uniforms with certain insignia on it. If you ever notice..occasionally in a commercial someone will be dressed to appear to be a Marine drill instructor..but if you look closely he wears no eagle globe and anchor and his chevrons (stripes) do not have crossed rifles under them. to wear these and not be a Marine in uniform is a federal offense...furthermore..any marine can take it off you if youre wearing it in public. Not sure about regs regarding any other branch. my personal feeling is...perhaps you just don't appreciate the respect held by the military for the medals. If you want to go to a costume party you can use fake ones..not the real things.

Answer 3

It is not a requirement that you wear your military uniform to all public events. However, I think having him in his military uniform would look VERY classy (depending on what branch he's in. I'm not too crazy about the Navy formal outfits so when my cousin wore his to my graduation I thought he looked goofy, but thats just my personal opinion.) All of my family and cousins are in the military, so when my cousin got married his 2 brothers wore their Marine and Army uniforms, and I asked my Marine cousin to wear his dress blues to my wedding (since my huz is leaving for boot camp soon). If you are a stickler for him not wearing his uniform, then just tell him not to. It is true that he will sick out a bit more. Tell him that you just flat out do not want him in his army uniform and if he says something like "i have to, its a public event" remind him that that is NOT a requirement and you would prefer if he dressed like the rest of the guests/wedding party. Since he is in High School can't your parents help with this? And about him not being allowed to wear the uniform since he's not "in" the military...if you are "in" enough to be allowed to have a uniform, you are "in" enough to wear it to a wedding, as long as he obeys the rules and wears the full uniform, cleaned and ironed to standards and does not wear anything he has not earned, or anything that is not his rank, etc. If he truly weren't in the Army (or ROTC), he would not have a uniform in the first place.

Answer 4

those medals are a show of appreciation for the service the soldiers have done.They earned the right to wear the uniform and the medals,by bravery and sacrifice...you haven't! They wear them with honor,you apparently don't know the meaning of honor

Answer 5

I don't think it is unreasonable to make it illegal for people to prosecuted for wearing medals they did not earn.

I understand your argument about personal freedoms and I don't think we should rubber stamp this law without thinking about the precedent we are setting.

Answer 6

I would be upset if someone were wearing the medals and ribbons that I earned if they had not.

Answer 7

THE VETEREN WHO EARNED THE MEDAL OR MEDALS IN QUESTION PUT HIS OR HER LIFE ON THE LINE FOR THIER COUNTRY TO PROTECT WHINERS LIKE YOU, SO YOU COULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT AND WEAR WHAT YOU WANT AND GO WHERE YOU WANT.