Lying about having served in the military could soon carry a serious prison sentence in Louisiana.
Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, R-Port Allen, cleared the state Senate with unanimous support Tuesday and will head to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Kleinpeter’s bill would make what’s known as stolen valor a crime. It encompasses false claims of military service and armed services members taking credit for medals, rank or other insignia they did not receive. Penalties could range from small fines to several years in prison, depending on the severity of the crime.
A fraudster who fakes a service record to get certain benefits reserved for veterans or active duty troops could yield the most severe sentence of up to five years. A lesser offense, such as a civilian claiming to be in the military or a veteran, could be fined up to $1,000.
It would also be a crime to wear or claim unearned military citations, such as the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart and others considered to be among the nation’s highest honors.
Kleinpeter amended his proposal Tuesday to also include lesser awards for general combat service, such as the Combat Action Ribbon or a Combat Action Badge. Such military decorations are not well recognized among civilians but widely revered in the service. They are also relatively common among veterans and easy to buy from military surplus stores.
So far, the measure has been sailing easily through the legislature. Apart from some brief words by Kleinpeter, debate on the bill was nonexistent on the Senate floor Tuesday.
Stolen valor is recognized as a crime in at least 15 states and is also a federal offense, but Kleinpeter said it’s often difficult to enforce. He told his colleagues he authored the bill at the request of constituents who are veterans and have seen it in their communities.
