They currently can be, and the Supreme Court will weigh in on the subject
(NEWSER) - Since 2006, lying about military valor—claiming to have received a prestigious medal, for instance—could result in prosecution. But that could change after this Wednesday, when the Supreme Court reviews the Stolen Valor Act. Proponents of the law, which include the Obama administration, say it prevents fraud. Such liars are "impersonating somebody else," says a woman whose college essay pushing for the law made its way to Congress. But civil liberties groups, writers, and media outlets including the AP are concerned about the limits the Stolen Valor Act places on free speech—and the fact that it can turn people into criminals for things they say, rather than do. More»
