“Stolen Valor” bill stalls in Assembly

Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno, above, and Assemblyman Elliot Anderson, D-Las Vegas proposed Senate Bill 365 which would make it a gross misdemeanor to falsify a military background to obtain something of value.

CARSON CITY — For the second consecutive session, legislators have been unable to create a way to penalize people who lie about their military records.

Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno, and Assemblyman Elliot Anderson, D-Las Vegas, argued Monday to the Assembly Judiciary Committee that veterans are angered by people who claim unearned military qualifications and medals and that nothing has been done to stop them. Their Senate Bill 365 would create the crime of “stolen valor” and make it a gross misdemeanor to falsify a military background to obtain something of value.

The bill won unanimous Senate approval, but the Assembly committee took no action Monday. A similar bill was killed two years ago in the Assembly.

Vanessa Spinazola, a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union in Carson City, argued that the Nevada bill still faces a First Amendment challenge.