A crew from a Tucson television news station was wandering around the demonstration at the state Capitol Monday, speaking to some of the demonstrators who want Gov. Doug Ducey to lift his stay-at-home order and restrictions on businesses.

The TV crew’s footage shows a crowd in close proximity to one another without masks – allowing any asymptomatic carrier to freely spread the coronavirus. (If you recognize any of these people you’d be wise to stay away from them for the next two weeks.)

The TV crew’s microphone also picked up some of the speakers at the event, including one who had some not-so-subtle threats for Democrats.

Don't want to 'have to shoot 'em'

A reader sent me a Facebook link to the footage. As the camera operator meanders through the crowd you can hear the speaker – I don’t know his name – at about the six minute mark. He says in part:

“I fought in Vietnam against the socialist communists. I’m sorry we didn’t kill them all.

“We’re under attack by China. And the Democrats are on the Chinese side, and the media is on the Democrats side.

“My guys didn’t die in vain. You and your children and your grandchildren are worth dying for. And their freedom and their liberty must be paid for.

“And all I’m asking you is to vote them out, because I don’t want to have to shoot ‘em again.

“But I will if I have to. So make no mistake about it there are men like me standing among us who are not afraid….”

Comparing Democrats to the Chinese or to the communists he killed in Vietnam is bad enough.

There’s a hint of rational thought, however, when he says that all he’s asking is for you to vote them out. Fine.

But then we get the “because I don’t want to have to shoot ‘em again. But I will if I have to...."

Meaning what?

If you don’t vote out Democrats he’ll shoot them?

And if the speaker's words aren't disturbing enough -- and they are -- what’s worse is the laughter and the cheers from the crowd.

COVID-19 is now the leading daily cause of death in the United States, killing more people than diseases like cancer or heart disease.

More than 40,000 people have died. There are roughly 800,000 cases.

The inconveniences placed upon us by elected officials dealing with the pandemic are not about elections. They’re about saving lives.

Or trying to.

Just the opposite of what was happening at the state Capitol.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.