Kentucky lawmakers condemned what they described as threats posted Saturday on Facebook against Gov. Andy Beshear that discussed removing him "by any means necessary via the Second Amendment."

A post in the "Boone County Neighborhood Group," a public forum started by Cincinnati Enquirer reporters for community members in the Northern Kentucky county, included the apparent comments that elected officials were pointing out.

"Down with Beshear! First he denies us our constitutionally protected right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness," the post said. "Then he denies us of our constitutionally protected right to practice our religion. Now he denies us are constitutionally protected right the peaceful protest.

"By these ... unconstitutional acts on the part of Andy Beshear the Constitution protects us and gives us the authority to eliminate him by any means necessary via the Second Amendment."

During his COVID-19 briefing on Sunday, Beshear provided a brief response when asked about the threats, calling Kentucky State Police "an incredible organization filled with great people."

"They provide security for me on a daily basis," Beshear said. "I trust them. They know what they're doing, and I couldn't be in better hands."

Asked about the social media threats, KSP spokesman Sgt. Josh Lawson wrote in an email that his agency "does not comment on the level of security provided to protect the Governor, nor any inquiries that we receive regarding these efforts."

But the person who made the comments told The Courier Journal in a message Sunday that his post was "NOT threatening anyone."

The Facebook user "Sean Bossman" said he had included a link in his post to an article on Sen. Rand Paul accusing Beshear of running a "totalitarian state" for making changes to how protesters can gather at the Capitol during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I added the comment about the Second Amendment NOT as a threat to anyone but, rather to augment the severity of the Constitutional violations committed by Governor Beshear," he said. "... The group that I posted it to is one where we regularly have a lot of political debates. My intent was to have a debate on the article to (which) I linked."

"Unfortunately, a few of them thought it would be funny to report it as a real threat as kind of a 'gotcha' moment," he added. "It's just too bad that we're at a point that we can no longer debate as adults without hating on other who don't support your political candidate."

"Bossman," who did not clarify whether that is his real name or not, said he had already spoken to three "investigators" after his comments were reported as a threat. He declined to say which organization the investigators represented.

"They read the post including all 280 + comments and determined that not only did I never make a threat towards Governor Beshear but, I had emphasized multiple times throughout the comments that my post in no way was intended to be taken as a threat as some were claiming in the debate," he said.

But while the man said he was not making a threat against Beshear, a Democrat, various state leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called the comments a threat.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Secretary of State Michael Adams both condemned the remark on social media.

"Dissent and disagreement are necessary for any healthy government. Threats of violence are not and are unacceptable," Cameron tweeted.

"This comment is reprehensible," Adams tweeted. "Our Second Amendment protects fundamental rights; murder is not among them. In a civilized society, we settle our differences with ballots, not bullets."

State Sen. Julie Raque Adams offered a similar take.

"This. Is. Wrong. While people disagree with elected officials on a variety of issues, everyday, no one should be making threats against the life of another human being," the Louisville Republican, who serves as the Senate's majority caucus chair, wrote in a Facebook post Saturday.

"The fight to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus is a very trying time for all of us. No leader alive today has the answer."

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Adams closed her post by encouraging people to pray for, not threaten, elected officials.

"We should pray for our executive and legislative leaders to make the tough decisions to get us through this," Adams continued in her post. "They are under enormous pressure, strain and challenges and they need our prayers — not threats.

"Working together, I am confident that we can overcome this challenge together. And without threat of violence."

Rep. R. Travis Brenda, R-Cartersville, tweeted that he does "not approve of any threat to any person, regardless of their political beliefs."

"We should be able to have civil discourse without resorting to threats because of a difference of opinion on various issues," Brenda said. "No two people will agree on every issue. We need to work together to get through this uncertain time for our state and nation."

"We don’t all have to agree, but to threaten the life of the Governor or anyone is unacceptable," Rep. Regina Huff, R-Williamsburg, wrote on Facebook. "You can’t love God and act however you choose, including treating others badly. Further, you can have a voice without hatred!! Mercy, the reason people that want to do the right thing gets out of this business is every single day there is greed, discord, manipulation, and purely evil actions!! I for one, am tired!!"

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, said in a Facebook post that the threats "have been reported to the authorities and the situation is being monitored."

"The decision to be a public servant is not taken lightly. We make many sacrifices as we strive to best serve our constituents," Bojanowski added. "Sacrificing our lives should not be one of them. I fully support Governor Beshear in his effort to protect the lives of all Kentuckians. I will do whatever I can to protect his life."

John Cartwright, a founder of the pro-Second Amendment group Kentucky United, said the "Sean Bossman" Facebook account isn’t part of his group. He called the comments “nonsense” and “out of line.”

“I believe he’s delusional,” he said of the person who posted. "Everything, in my opinion, that Beshear has done pretty much has been well within the state of emergency (powers) and Constitution."

He added that there are several people in Kentucky United who aren’t happy with all the actions by Beshear, but they’re not making similar comments, and if they did, they would be removed from the group.

“If that guy was on our page talking like that, the first comment would probably be his last,” Cartwright said.

Other elected officials also chimed in to express disgust over the social media comments directed at Beshear.

While Beshear has earned some praise and national attention for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Kentucky, the first-term governor has also received public pushback over his decisions to shut down most businesses during the pandemic.

In addition, Beshear has been named in several lawsuits related to his order limiting in-person church services and other mass gatherings.

More news:Judge denies Maryville Baptist Church's bid to block Gov. Beshear's coronavirus order

On Wednesday, roughly 100 protesters gathered on the Capitol lawn in Frankfort to demonstrate against Beshear, chanting things like "we want to work" and "facts over fear" and also blowing horns.

The noise from the demonstration was audible as Beshear gave his daily 5 p.m. briefing on the latest COVID-19 updates.

Earlier:Protests erupt outside Capitol over Beshear's handling of pandemic

In response to the Wednesday gathering, the Beshear administration implemented several changes.

Dr. Steven Stack, the state health commissioner, said in statement Thursday he asked state troopers to provide Kentuckians with an alternative option to demonstrate. Under the changes, those wishing to protest must remain in their vehicles.

On Friday morning, a caravan of about three dozen vehicles circled the Capitol for about an hour in protest of Beshear's COVID-19 orders, while a smaller smattering of protesters gathered outside during the 5 p.m. briefing, calling Beshear a "tyrant."

Several Republican elected officials, including Paul and Cameron have also criticized Beshear for his COVID-19 related actions and expressed support for the Capitol protesters.

About halfway through his Wednesday briefing, Beshear acknowledged the protesters, saying "there's some noise in the background."

"We do have some folks up in here in Kentucky today — and everybody should be able to express their opinion — that believe we should reopen Kentucky immediately, right now," Beshear said. "Folks, that would kill people. That would absolutely kill people."

Protesters in states such as Indiana, California, Michigan, Virginia, Minnesota and Ohio also took to the streets this week to demand a loosening of stay-at-home orders and a reopening of the economy.

Indiana:Protesters rally outside Governor's Residence to say Holcomb's orders go too far

Both Democratic and Republican governors have enacted various versions of stay-at-home orders in recent weeks to combat the spread of the deadly virus.

Beshear and Stack explained Friday that the White House has provided benchmarks for states to look at as they decide when to loosen business and travel restrictions.

The seven benchmarks include increased testing capacity and "a 14-day downward slope in the cases," Stack said.

"That's a long enough duration to feel confident enough that it's not just a day-to-day variation, but a real trend," Stack said.

More:How will Kentucky's economy reopen? Beshear provides 7 benchmarks

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kentucky has continued to rise since the first case was reported on March 6 in Harrison County.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky will reach it peak in daily deaths of 12 on April 23.

On Saturday, Beshear announced 206 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 — a more than 50% jump from the 134 new cases reported the day prior.

The Bluegrass State has more than 2,900 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and at least 148 Kentuckians have died from the virus.

Beshear said Saturday he did not feel pressure to reopen the state sooner than is advised.

"People try to create divisions," he said. "...All science is the same. You move out some of the rhetoric in any direction, and the science and the data is the same."

Matt Mencarini contributed to this story.

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com or 502-582-7030. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.