Nardolillo Bill Would Make Impersonating a Veteran a Crime

Motivated by national reports of people pretending to be veterans, Rep. Robert A. Nardolillo III (R-Dist. 28, Coventry) has submitted legislation that would make “stolen valor” a crime.

The bill (2015-H 5999) would make it a crime to fraudulently represent oneself as an active or inactive member of the military or armed forces for the purpose of obtaining money, property or other tangible benefits. The crime would be a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than a year, or a fine of $1000, or both.

“I am proud and honored to wave the American flag to express my patriotism and love of country,” said Representative Nardolillo. “This bill is to honor the sacrifice of those men and women who have, and still continue to fight for our freedoms. It is an honor that should not be fraudulently taken. Our military deserves the ultimate respect and this nationwide issue needs to be addressed now.”

Shortly after the Nardolillo bill was introduced, a video from Tampa, Fla., showing a veteran accosting a panhandler in uniform claiming to be a veteran, went viral.

In the video, former Army combat medic Garrett Goodwin can be heard saying, “Take off my uniform. Take that and throw it in the garbage. I don’t want you to wear it anymore. That’s my uniform. My brothers died for that uniform.” The crime of stolen valor is a third-degree felony in Florida.

“In Rhode Island, it’s already illegal for non-members of veterans groups, such as the VFW or the American Legion to wear the insignias of those organizations (§11-14-4),” said Representative Nardolillo. “It’s considered false personation and comes with a fine of $100. If we consider wearing these emblems to be important enough to merit protection under the law, then we should certainly prevent those falsely claiming to be veterans from obtaining money from those claims.”

In addition to falsely wearing military uniforms or using falsified military identification, the law would include falsely representing oneself as a recipient of the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross and other military decorations.

Congress originally passed the Stolen Valor Law in 1948 and updated it to include military decorations in 2006, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that laws that restrict speech purely because the statements are false might be held unconstitutional.

“In this case,” said Representative Nardolillo, “the crime would be accepting money y based on false statements, so it would come under the heading of fraud, rather than constitutionally protected free speech.”

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Robert B. Lancia (R-Dist. 16, Cranston), Justin K. Price (R-Dist. 39, Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter), Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Coventry, Glocester) and Marvin L, Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown). It has been referred to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.