{"id":58570,"date":"2015-03-05T10:02:15","date_gmt":"2015-03-05T15:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/valorguardians.com\/blog\/?p=58570"},"modified":"2015-03-05T08:15:10","modified_gmt":"2015-03-05T13:15:10","slug":"stolen-valor-act-in-pennsylvania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/?p=58570","title":{"rendered":"Stolen Valor Act in Pennsylvania"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Timothy<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

One aspect of Pennsylvania’s attempts to close the stolen valor gap was passed by the state senate. Apparently, a few years ago, PA decided to put an identifier on drivers’ licenses for veterans, but, there were no restrictions on it – you self-identified on application by checking a block on your application. The result is that there are people in PA who aren’t veterans walking around with veteran driver license. So the legislature is working to fix that this year.<\/p>\n

Another Stolen Valor Act is making it’s way to a vote<\/a>;<\/p>\n

Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin said a case involving Timothy Flaherty proved legislation like this is needed. Tonkin said Flaherty exaggerated his war experience to get special treatment from the court system. He claimed he was injured in combat but records show that wasn\u2019t true.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think he is the only person abusing entitlement programs,\u201d said Vietnam Era Veteran Daniel Gagnon. He and other veterans at the American Legion in East Stroudsburg were frustrated to hear people lie about service. Vietnam Era Veteran Arlington Wolbert said, “What’s the sense in faking something like that. It’s just not right.”<\/p>\n

In the past, courts have deemed calling yourself a veteran, even if you\u2019re not, \u201cfree speech.\u201d Wolbert reacted, “Those people put their lives and their country first and I think that to fake something like that it is just unconscionable.\u201d<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

If the bill passes, the penalty would be a fine of up to $2,500 plus up to a year in jail. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n