Reply #5: You cannot diminish a symbol.

[Teaser]

A symbol is only diminished if the interpreter of the symbol allows it to be diminished. Does anyone who knows what the medals mean think less of them because some overzealous clown decided to use them as costume jewelery? If they do, the problem is with their brains.

The only thing this guy diminished is his own standing in the community.

I see no difference between this and burning a flag. Crappy, distasteful behavior. Not a crime. And *certainly* worthy of nothing more than a fine.

Now if he decides to use the perceived authority of the uniform/medals to cause material harm to another person, like someone who plays cop to extort someone else, that's another story. But I don't see that anything of that sort was done here.