What is currently a moral crime could soon become a literal crime in Louisiana. A legislative push in Baton Rouge aims to penalize individuals who falsely claim military service, or unearned decorations. Louisiana Senate Bill 51 secured unanimous approval from the Senate and is heading to the House for passage in that chamber. The proposed law aims to create criminal offenses for “the crime of fraudulent representation of military service or awards”…with various tiers of punishment depending on the severity of the deception.
Lawmakers designed the legislation to address civilian fraudsters, and service members, who are either military imposters, or are claiming service time or accolades they did not earn. The penalty for a civilian lying about being a veteran could result in a fine up to $1,000 and jail time. Casual misrepresentations will no longer be dismissed as harmless bragging…they will be treated as strict criminal offenses.
Escalating Fines for Faking Prestigious Combat Medals
The legal consequences increase dramatically when deception involves the highest military honors. Falsely claiming a Purple Heart, or Congressional Medal of Honor, could trigger fines reaching $5,000 along with a one-year prison sentence. The legislation was also amended to cover highly respected combat designations…ensuring faking a Combat Action Ribbon carries significant weight…