Paul Jennings Hill

Paul Jennings Hill (former minister) was the first person in the United States to be executed for killing an abortion provider.

On July 29, 1994 Hill approached a Pensacola, Florida abortion clinic with which he was familiar. When he spotted physician John Britton and his clinic escort, James Barrett, outside, he shot them both at close range with a shotgun. In addition to the two murders, Hill seriously wounded Barrett’s wife. He was arrested that same day. On December 6, 1994, Hill was sentenced to death by lethal injection under Florida law.

In a statement before his execution, Hill said that he felt no remorse for his actions, and that he expected “a great reward in Heaven”. During his trial, the judge did not allow Hill to use an affirmative defense of justification. Hill said he viewed the acts as defensive rather than retributive. Hill left behind a manuscript manifesto which his backers promised him they would publish. That manifesto and his address to the jury that convicted him echoed the words of John Brown, who had attempted to incite a violent insurrection to end slavery in the United States. Hill was not apologetic for the killings, and in his last words he encouraged others who believe abortion is an illegitimate use of lethal force to “do what you have to do to stop it”.

The Astrology

The Sun in Paul’s chart is placed in the sign of Aquarius, and his essential purpose in life is to view all things impartial. Humanitarianism and making positive changes in the environment are conscious goals in life. His life centered on reforming and developing the potential of human beings. The Sun in Aquarius is in EXACT trine to Jupiter in Gemini. Sun trine Jupiter, can show a positive and enthusiastic nature. The planet Jupiter rules over, beliefs, ethics, expansion, faith, religion, and GOD. The trine in astrology (planets 120 degrees apart) are easily expressed by the individual, and Paul's beliefs and ethics (Jupiter) are self enhancing. The trine can also aid him towards achieving his Jupiterian goals involving his work with the church. Both Sun and Jupiter are fire planets and can self inflate. Hill apparently had a religious conversation with God (Jupiter in Gemini) when he was walking home, and he believed he was the soldier of God. The Sun is also in opposition to Pluto, he has an infatuation with power, and is secretive about his motives. Hill never told his wife what he planned to do, and what extreme measures he was going to take for his anti-abortion campaign. He was compulsive, stubborn, fixed and determined on achieving his objectives (Sun Aquarius and 5 planets in fixed signs). With Jupiter and Pluto on his Sun, I do believe that this man believed he had a powerful destiny (Sun-Pluto) to fulfill.

Mars the fighting principle for the Sun

Paul had Mars in Scorpio at the focal point of a t.square with Pluto in Leo, and Sun-Venus in Aquarius. Mars in Scorpio has a powerful sense of survival, and can act quite compulsively. Mars is square to Pluto in his natal chart, a pronounced potential for power, a raw instinctive and violent energy. When Paul is angered he is unforgiving, and he used underhand methods to achieve his goals. Mercury-Mars has strong opinions, and his mind is sensitive to collective/broader (Mercury in Pisces) issues. His mentality is dark due to the unconscious undercurrents connected to his thoughts and intellect (Mercury-Pluto).

Saturn in Scorpio by Alan Oken: There may thus be a very strong battle between the emotional and mental aspects within oneself. On the personality level, this often leads to some very distinct challenges in dealing with one’s sexual expression. It is through the Fourth Ray of Scorpio that harmony will have to be established out of this conflict. If achieved, Saturn in Scorpio gives the ability to release hidden strengths and resources. This position works to break down the compulsive nature of negative emotional habit patterns. In this way more refined mental structures may be built for the externalization of the Higher Self.