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Panel votes to crack down on veterans' grave vandals

By Michael Posner CongressDaily June 13, 2008

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to impose severe federal penalties for vandals who desecrate graves or steal grave plaques of deceased military veterans.

Without discussion, the committee approved the House-passed bill (H.R. 3480) on a voice vote for Senate consideration. The House approved the bill on May 21.

Metal grave markers are being stolen from the grave sites of veterans either as an act of vandalism or to get the metal to sell to scrap yards.

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Incidents have occurred in Texas, Washington state and Michigan.

The measure would make such acts that occur to a veteran's grave in a federal or private cemetery a federal crime.

It would require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review its guidelines and increase penalties for those convicted of crimes associated with "desecration, theft, or trafficking in, a grave marker, headstone, monument, or other object, intended to permanently mark a veteran's grave." It also states penalties should be "appropriately severe."

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  • First I believe these people should be publically hung from the nearest tree and pretty soon you wouldn't have anyone repeating the crime. BUT we all know that's not going to happen. What will happen is IF they change the law to make it a federal crime and a felony they MIGHT...MAYBE catch a few sorry deadbeat individuals. If caught, all the bleeding heart liberals will want to put these sorry excuses for a human being up in some institution at the expense of the tax payers which will cost MORE MONEY than the amount stolen or the cost required to repair. I say just stop putting metal on markers. Use a nother material.
    SATOS Posted June 17, 2008 8:30 AM
  • I grew up in a small town in upstate New York. The grave of each Veteran was honored by a metal flag holder from a local Veterans group such as the the VFW, American Legion, etc. Each Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day volunteers would place a Flag by each grave. They now use plastic holders to prevent the theft. Theft or sale of these Veterans grave markers should also be a crime and part of this law. If seen for sale I hope each individual will confront the seller and ask him to remove the items immediately and return them to the nearest Veterans group or police station.
    Gary T. Staffo Posted June 17, 2008 6:33 AM
  • I think this goes on every where, total disrespect for people, make it a felony to bye any of that stuff, only enforce it. Then put the people that do it on forced labor, and if the cry baby's in this country don't like it TO BAD.
    JH Posted June 16, 2008 4:22 PM
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