Alabama pastor says people should be shot if they don’t stand for the national anthem.

In a revolting display of misguided patriotism, Pastor Allen Joyner advocates for the execution of those who refuse to stand for the national anthem.

Joyner made his despicable remarks while announcing a McKenzie High School football game in Butler County.

Joyner said:

If you don’t want to stand for the national anthem, you can line up over there by the fence and let our military personnel take a few shots at you since they’re taking shots for you.

Perhaps even more disturbing, Joyner’s church expressed approval for the egregious remarks. AL.com reports the Sweet Home Baptist Church supported the pastor’s comments in a post to its Facebook page on Saturday. Apparently the post was up for about an hour before the church’s Facebook page was deleted.

Butler County Schools Superintendent Amy Bryan immediately denounced Joyner’s comments in a statement to AL.com made via email.

Patriotism should be a part of school events but threats of shooting people who aren’t patriotic, even in jest, have no place at a school. Threats of violence are a violation of school policy and certainly not condoned by the school board.

Superintendent Bryan said she didn’t know if any action will be taken against Joyner. The school board meets next week, and the matter could be addressed then, she said.

No doubt Pastor Joyner’s despicable and distinctly un-American remarks were made in response to San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem before a 49ers’ preseason game with Green Bay late last month.

In an exclusive interview with NFL Media Kaepernick explained his actions, noting by not standing he was making a statement against racial oppression:

I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.

By taking a stand and not standing for the national anthem, Kaepernick was exercising his right as an American citizen to protest injustice. As such, his actions were, by definition, patriotic, for they were a celebration of what it means to be an American.

Clearly Pastor Joyner has no idea what it means to be an American, and no idea what our military personnel are defending.

Bottom line: More of that Christian love from an ignorant and mean-spirited Alabama pastor.