Though we appreciated the intent behind a piece of legislation which makes it a crime for an individual to knowingly and fraudulently represent oneself as a member of the military to obtain “money, property, or another tangible benefit,” we urged the deletion of the phrase “tangible benefit” from the bill as we were concerned that such broad language could have unintentional First Amendment implications. S 2425A, the version of the bill which ultimately signed into law, did not contain this language.
Crime of Stolen Valor (H 7411, H 7811, & S 2425A)
Sponsors
Representative Carol Hagen McEntee, Representative Samuel Azzinaro, and Senator Roger Picard
Related Issues
Related content

Kosher School Meals (H 5776)
March 24, 2023
Affirmative Defense to Crime of Obscenity (H 6066)
March 24, 2023
Distribution of “Sexually Explicit” Material to Minors (H 5756)
March 24, 2023
Creation of Crime of “Menacing” (H 5895)
March 24, 2023
Workplace First Amendment Rights (H 5516)
March 8, 2023
Net Neutrality (H 5432)
March 6, 2023LETTER Re: Proposed Amendment to Definition of "Adult Entertainment...
March 1, 2023LETTER Re: Warwick Community Room Policy
January 10, 2023