Massachusetts passes five veteran-related bills into law
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed five new veterans-related bills into law yesterday, according to MassLive;
The so-called Stolen Valor Act, sponsored by Velis, will make it illegal to impersonate a military member for financial gain.
State Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, sponsored a law that will give Purple Heart recipients free access to Massachusetts state parks and recreation areas.
State Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, sponsored a law that will require anyone convicted of willfully damaging a war memorial or veteran’s gravestone or marker to pay restitution to the property owners.
The other new laws make it a crime to steal commemorative flag holders from veterans’ or first responders’ graves and to buy or sell stolen headstones or monuments from veterans’ or first responders’ graves.
According to another MassLive link, Massachusetts will have the toughest Stolen Valor law in the country;
Velis’ bill would make it a misdemeanor, punishable by a year in prison or a $1,000 fine, to wear a military uniform, awards or decorations that one has not earned, to use fake military identification or to falsely claim to be a military member or veteran for purposes of financial gain. Financial gain can be anything from getting a home loan to buying a discounted movie ticket.
A federal Stolen Valor law and similar laws in other state make it illegal to falsely claim a military medal for financial gain. The Massachusetts law is unique because it would extend that to any claim of military service.
The photo in this post is Stephen Franklin Cio Burrell, the fourth most dangerous crybaby in the world. He used to claim that he earned the Medal of Honor, but he’s the first Massachusetts resident who came to mind when I read this article.
Category: Stolen Valor Act
Do we start pounding on Burrell again? Or are we sticking to Giduck and Phildo?
Awesome.
Thanks, Jonn!
I have missed “Ranger” Burrell!
We really have not given him the credit he so richly deserves.
I’ll just leave this here for your amusement.
Nice Hair-doo there Hong Kong Phooey
I see that there’s a recent Facebook comment from a woman over on Burrell’s article. It sounds like it didn’t go well for him. He must be getting dating advice from Cheeseslayer.
In the old My Space page he had up, it looked to have young teenagers on it.
Sicko.
They made it ‘a crime to steal’?
So-called liberals will be in an uproar over that one.
Dude looks like a fluffer waiting for a client at a gay bar…
Or a gay porn star waiting for an interview or his entrance onto the set.
He’s checking out the dancers at the Blue Oyster Bar.
Good for The People’s Republic of MA! They passed it, but just how vigorously will they enforce it?
“got his ass beat, apparently by the third most dangerous man in the world.”
Still my favorite line Jonn has ever posted.
Ditto!
“The other new laws make it a crime to steal commemorative flag holders from veterans’ or first responders’ graves….” Theft is theft. This reminds me of hate crimes, which I loathe, or domestic violence crimes, when battery works just fine. The pols are jumping all over this stuff. Must need more electioneering fodder.