Should You Be Jailed Simply for Lying?

25 March 2012

United States Supreme Court

JUNE SIMMS: Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I'm June Simms.

Today, we tell about a federal law called the Stolen Valor Act of two thousand five. The Act bars people from claiming they received military honors when they did not. Any violation is considered a crime.

Recently, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments for and against the law. Christopher Cruise went to the court hearing, and has our report.

(MUSIC)

CHRISTOPHER CRUISE: Let me begin with some history about the Stolen Valor Act. The Act was proposed in both houses of Congress in two thousand five. The measure easily won congressional approval. It became law after President George W. Bush added his signature in late two thousand six.

There were no congressional hearings on the Act. And the debate in the House of Representatives lasted just twenty minutes.

Some federal judges and free-speech activists say the law is unconstitutional. They say this case is not about military honors, but about government power. But supporters of the law say it is necessary to protect both the honor of those who have received awards and the integrity of the military honors system. They say the case is about theft -- not about lying.

These competing arguments have made their way to what is sometimes called “the highest court in the land” -- the United States Supreme Court. It was asked whether the government should have the power to jail someone for claiming that they received a military honor when, in fact, they did not. Some observers say the court is really being asked to decide what kinds of lies the federal government can punish. It is a case of free speech versus government power.