TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida Representative Mike Hill has issued an apology letter after his response to a constituent about making homosexuality a crime punishable by death. 

This apology comes after many calls from members of the Florida Cabinet to apologize or to resign after Hill’s response. 

The exchange happened during a meeting at Pensacola City Hall last month in which one man said the Bible’s 1 Corinthians calls for a man having an affair with another man to be put to death, according to the Associated Press.

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

Another man said, “Can you introduce legislation?”

Hill joined the audience in chuckling.

“I wonder how that would go over?” Hill said, then adding, “OK. Enough of that stuff.”

In Hill’s apology, he said he regrets the tone of his response to the constituent and believes “that no matter one’s race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, economic status or otherwise, that all lives are created equal in the image of God.”

Below is Hill’s full apology:

“As everyone already knows, I am a Bible-believing Christian. I am publishing this press release to address the controversy that arose over a question recently asked at an event sponsored by Women For Responsible Legislation in Pensacola. Specifically, one man I had never met said the Bible in 1 Corinthians calls for a man having an affair with another man to be put to death. If the man was referring to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, that text says nothing about anyone being put to death. It simply states people who practice various sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. I apologize for not directly responding to the fact that the premise for this question was inaccurate. I deeply regret how the tone of my response to a constituent was received at this event. I believe that no matter one’s race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, economic status or otherwise, that all lives are created equal in the image of God. I served in the U.S. Air Force to protect the many freedoms we have in the United States for all Americans.”