Fox News prime-time host Sean Hannity took a stand against armed protesters who showed up at the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan, with long guns and body armor to protest the ongoing lockdown policies of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the coronavirus pandemic.
The protesters, Ms. Whitmer told CNN, “depicted some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history.”
Mr. Hannity offered his own perspective on other restrictive stay-at-home orders in California and Massachusetts. But he has his reservations about recent activities in the Wolverine State, most notably at a recent rally at the state capitol building by several hundred protesters, some of whom toted firearms.
“Michigan — I don’t like this part. In Michigan, I’m the number one supporter in radio and television that I know of, First Amendment, and the Second Amendment. Now, no one is a bigger defender of the Second Amendment than yours truly,” he told his audience Monday night.
“Everyone has a right to protest, protect themselves, and try to get the country open. This example with the militia look — and these long guns — uh, no. Show of force is dangerous,” Mr. Hannity continued.
“That puts our police at risk and, by the way, your message will never be heard, whoever you people are. No one should be attempting to intimidate officials with the show of force. And God forbid something happens, then they’re going to go after all of us law-abiding Second Amendment people,” he said.
“Let’s not spin out of control here,” Mr. Hannity continued, before launching into a critique of Ms. Wilmer’s lockdown policies.
His guest radio host Dan Bongino offered his own insight.
“People are fed up,” he said.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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