In less than 30 seconds of audio from his recent meeting with a Pensacola-based group called Women for Responsible Legislation, Florida Rep. Mike Hill proved why he is both an unfit legislator and an unfit Christian.

Listen to the clip.

A citizen comments: “In 1 Corinthians, it says that a man who has an affair with another man will be put to death.”

Hill’s response?

“It says that in the Old Testament, too.”

Another attendee asks, “Can you introduce legislation?”

Chuckles are audible. The state representative joins the laughter. “I wonder how that would go over?” Hill says.

And Jesus wept.

There, in that moment, Mike Hill and a few sad members of a small, cruel audience betrayed the most fundamental message of Christ — love.

Talk about "old time religion." What is revealed in Hill's discussion is the same sort of ancient, evil hatreds that put Christ himself to death, an innocent slaughtered by order of an immoral law and an inhumane audience of onlookers who allowed it to happen.

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Did Hill and his followers at the meeting actually believe this was a Christian conversation to have? Killing their fellow men? Making new laws to justify murder? Giggling about the mere possibility of the idea?

Where in God’s name do they think any of this behavior is what Jesus would do?

From the same meeting where news went viral of Mike Hill claiming God told him to create new abortion laws, this pathetic moment took place as well. There was so much wrong with so much of what happened that day. In the minutes leading up to these shameful 30 seconds, Hill expounds on his personal theories about how homosexuality is a choice and why gay citizens don’t deserve the same protections as other groups of people who have been viciously and violently targeted by segments of American society.

And then the government official giggled about killing gay people.

Within Hill’s bizarre and unchallenged hour-long conversation, this was but one of many intellectual and spiritual lowpoints. But when the discussion turned to murdering citizens for their sexuality, Hill’s event clearly found its most wicked moment.

Pensacola InWeekly Publisher Rick Outzen began raising questions with the city of Pensacola and Mayor Grover Robinson about the meeting since it took place at Pensacola City Hall. Though the community group is unaffiliated with the city, it is approved to hold meetings at the city's public meeting spaces. Would the KKK be permitted to discuss executing black or Jewish citizens in City Hall as well?

Not that the mayor of Pensacola is required to police free speech, but a little public moral outrage seems perfectly in order.

As God’s sense of theatrical irony would have it, the weekend following Hill’s abhorrent remarks marked our community’s massive annual LGBTQ Pride gathering at Pensacola Beach. How’s that for tourist development?

Welcome to Pensacola: Where our legislator would sentence you to death — but thanks for the bed taxes!

The reality of Mike Hill is that he is a failed legislator. All of his bills failed in the 2019 session. He has delivered nothing to his home district. Our community is neither safer or wealthier because of his work in public office.

And it sure as heck isn’t more Christian.

Where is our moral line, Pensacola? When do we reject politicians who misinterpret the Bible in order to muse about murder? Is that really some lofty standard?

See, much like Judas, Mike Hill had the freedom to make a moral choice at a crucial moment. When a member of his decrepit little congregation floated the idea of executing gay men, Hill could have said, “No sir.”

Hill could have said, “Stop right there.”

Hill could have said “That’s wrong.”

Hill could have said, “This is not what Jesus would do.”

But Hill did none of those things. Instead, Hill laughed. Instead, Hill concocted a malicious Biblical misrepresentation to muse about murder. Instead, Hill betrayed the teachings of Christ.

In a state where not so long ago, many innocent people were infamously targeted and executed at the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, it is unthinkable that a state legislator harbors such similarly evil ideas about gay citizens.

The Florida House ought to weigh in. When a legislator uses his office to entertain discussions about legislating murder, doesn’t that cross a line of public service?

Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson ought to do the same. Is Klan-like hate speech and deceptive misinterpretation of Christian teachings really part of the young, forward-thinking city that he is trying to lead?

It's not enough to groan, roll our eyes and privately lament Mike Hill. When public officials espouse cruel and immoral ideas, we are morally obligated to shout them down in the public square.

Ultimately and eventually, Hill will be judged for the combination of his tolerance, cowardice and giddiness in the face of blatantly immoral ideas.

In the meantime, it’s entirely appropriate for us to do the same. Hill has proven himself un-Christian and unfit to represent the people of Pensacola.