MAYER/DIEGNAN/CONNERS 'STOLEN VALOR' BILL PASSES SENATE

(TRENTON) - The Senate today passed legislation Assemblymen David R. Mayer, Patrick Diegnan, and Jack Conners sponsored that would make it a crime for any person to impersonate - with the intent to deceive - a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces or the New Jersey National Guard either by wearing a uniform, medal, or insignia authorized for official military use.

The bill was crafted to combat rising instances nationwide of individuals impersonating military personnel or wearing military medals they did not earn.

"Members of the armed forces earned the right to wear their uniforms and service medals through dedication, personal sacrifice and acts of valor," said Mayer (D-Gloucester).  "Unscrupulous individuals who lie about their service records or who fraudulently display medals they did not earn dishonor everyone who has ever put on a uniform in service to our country.  These shysters deserve to have their actions criminalized under the law."

Currently, only those people who impersonate or fraudulently display the uniform, medals, or insignia associated with the New Jersey National Guard are considered to be in violation of the law, facing misdemeanor charges.

The Mayer, Diegnan, Conners measure (A-1162) would expand the scope of the current law to include any member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces.  The legislation also would increase the penalty for "stolen valor" violations, making it a fourth degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in jail and $10,000 in fines.

"Our country's military services are noble institutions and we cannot afford to have weak laws governing the impersonation and improper display of military accolades," said Diegnan (D-Middlesex).  "Increasing the penalties associated with lying about one's service record will make wannabe heroes think twice before deciding to impersonate the real thing."

"It may not mean much to a civilian, but to military personnel, there is a huge difference between someone who earned the right to display medals of valor through courageous actions or sacrifice and someone who pretends to have earned that right," said Conners (D-Camden), a former New Jersey National Guardsman and U.S. Army Reservist.  "Our men and women in uniform deserve to know that when they see someone with a combat service ribbon or a meritorious service commendation it was earned and not hijacked."

The measure was unanimously passed by the Assembly in March as part of a landmark military veteran's agenda targeted toward assisting veterans, military personnel, and their families. 

The bill passed 37-0.   It now heads to the Governor, who may sign it, veto it, or modify it in the form of a conditional veto.

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