Army Spc. Marc A. Hall Jailed for Rap Song "Stop Loss" Over Deployment to Iraq

Spc. Marc A. Hall stationed in Fort Stewart, Ga., jailed over angry rap song "Stop Loss" about redeployment to Iraq.

Spc. Marc A. Hall, a soldier based in Fort Stewart, Ga., is sitting in jail for a rap song, "Stop Loss," he recorded about the Army and he describes going on a shooting spree. According to media reports, Hall was angry that the military planned to send him back to Iraq past his date to leave the military.  He was jailed in Liberty County, Ga., on criminal charges for the past month, because his commanders felt the lyrics of his song posed a threat to his unit. One of his lawyers, Jim Klimaski, insists that this song is simply a form of protest. Really? He knew exactly what he was getting into when he signed up to join the military. Besides, the language he used in the song is despicable and not becoming of a person in uniform. There is a better way to protest then resorting to the threat of violence.

 Charges filed against Hall of Coward, S.C., on Dec. 17, a week after he was jailed, say his threats weren't just confined to his rap recording. The charging document said he also told soldiers he would "go on a rampage" and that he "was planning on shooting the brigade and battalion commanders." Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said Monday commanders were being extra cautious after the recent shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, where an Army psychiatrist was charged with murdering 13 people in November. "Any threat needs to be taken seriously, no matter what," Larson said. "Any reasonable person who listens to that song would be concerned."

Hall was charged with five criminal counts under Article 134, a military law, which is used as a catchall for misconduct ranging from adultery to some types of assault. Each count specifically states that Hall communicated threats.

On the recording, Hall denounces the Army for the policy used to keep thousands of soldiers in the ranks beyond their scheduled dates to leave the military. He also raps about opening fire with his military-issue M-4 rifle. "I got a (expletive) magazine with 30 rounds, on a three-round burst, ready to fire down," Hall raps on the recording. "Still against the wall, I grab my M-4, spray and watch all the bodies hit the floor. "I bet you never stop-loss nobody no more, in your next lifetime of course. No remorse." Source: WSB-TV

Hall's beef is that instead of leaving the Army after four years next month, he would be kept in the ranks for a yearlong tour in Iraq commencing in December 2009, under the "stop loss" policy, which is the policy of keeping troops in service beyond their enlistment dates. This policy has been vastly unpopular with many in the military. What I find amazing is that the Army ignored obvious red flags with Fort Hood shooter Army  Maj. Nidal Hasan, who murdered 13 people on Nov. 5, but they landed like a ton on bricks on Spc. Hall. Don't get me wrong, I am not condoning Mr. Hall's behavior in any way, in fact the lyrics of this song are terrible and as a parent, I wonder if he would feel content with his children listening to it. I do find it ironic that the black man got locked up, but the Muslim extremist was coddled and given rave performance reviews even though they knew his associations and behavior were problematic. I hope he is being held to the same standard as someone else who behaves in the same manner.

To listen to the song, CLICK HERE (graphic lyrics).