Sightless Gregory Burleson suddenly saw his future very clearly Wednesday morning in U.S. District Court.

Convicted April 24 of eight felonies in connection with his role as an armed volunteer gunman for Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy during a tense April 12, 2014 standoff, Burleson was sentenced to a little more  than 68 years in prison. Defense attorney Terrence Jackson argued his client’s diminished physical state qualified him for leniency, but despite taking his blindness and other issues into account, U.S District Judge Gloria Navarro followed the federal sentencing guidelines and buried the 53-year-old Burleson with a life sentence and then some.

You don’t have to believe Bundy’s 20-year refusal to pay his federal grazing fees was the hustle of a welfare rancher with delusions of grandeur and not an act of constitutional defiance. You don’t have to admit that the federal law enforcement officers present to provide security during the roundup of Bundy’s impounded cattle were within their jurisdiction and carrying out court orders.

But let’s all agree that a 68-year sentence for crimes related to threatening those federal officers is more than heavy. It is draconian. None of the defendants in the Bundy saga fired a shot that day.

That said, it doesn’t mean the blind Burleson should have caught a big break. This was no federal overreach, math error, or monumental misunderstanding.

Acting United States Attorney Steven Myhre and his prosecution team knew exactly what they were doing when they pursued Burleson along with five other men who traveled heavily armed from out of state as associates and members of the American militia movement to assist Bundy.

Burleson had a long alliance with Arizona militia members. Although his attorney made much of his client’s late arrival to the area -- Burleson joined the protest about noon that day — the lawyer declined to mention what his man brought to the picnic. Burleson was photographed in the field with a semi-automatic weapon and loads of ammunition.

Was he just exercising his Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms?

Judge for yourself. Burleson brought an AK-47, AR-15, a shotgun, a .40-caliber handgun, a 9-millimeter handgun, 1,000 rounds of ammunition per weapon, a three-foot katana sword, a battle axe, body armor, and a gas mask, according to the government’s sentencing memorandum.

He may be blind and frail now, but he had big teeth that April day in 2014.

Although his defense attorneys argued Burleson’s voluntary statements to an FBI undercover documentary film crew were influenced by alcohol, the video left no reasonable doubt about the Arizona resident's state of hate-fueled mind before, during, and after the standoff.

Bundy could keep his cows and Constitution. Burleson was out for blood.

 “I went there for the express purpose of engaging rogue federal agents that were breaking the law, that were breaking their oath to the Constitution,” he said.

That is, his interpretation of the Constitution.

“I literally went there to put them six feet under,“ he said. “I was hell bent on killing federal agents that had turned their back on we the people, broke their oath to the Constitution and were acting in an extremely unlawful manner against private citizens.”

Bureau of Land Management officers had tangled with Bundy family members during the contract cattle roundup in the days leading up to the standoff. Highlights of those acts were recorded by the family and sent out over the Internet and social media. (In case you were wondering, they neglected to mention that federal officers were carrying out court orders and that he had lost his legal battle over his grazing fees.)

Defense attorney Terrence Jackson said his client, whose mental capacity he questioned during the sentencing hearing, was “manipulated” and “influenced” by the Bundys. He offered few specifics.

But we all know who will be doing Burleson’s prison time. It won’t be the manipulators and influencers.

Back when he could still see, Burleson’s sight was good enough to spew a lot of threats and racial hatred.

When Assistant US Attorney Nicholas Dickinson argued for a sentencing enhancement known as a “terrorism adjustment” in Burleson’s case, he wasn’t simply piling on. Not only did Burleson claim to be a member of the Arizona Independent Militia, he associated with self-described militia outfits that focused on patrolling the Mexican border.

He wasn’t just angry about Bundy’s battle. He was ready to kill any traffic cop who pulled him over. In addition to a long string of misdemeanor and felony arrests (he was on probation at the time of the standoff), Burleson’s hate speech extended throughout law enforcement to members of the Islam community and, of course, the president (Obama).

In court, Burleson offered no stirring, heartfelt apologies. He displayed no apparent remorse. Of his many hate-filled posts he allowed, “They do not reflect my character. ... They reflect the rantings and ravings of me when I was on alcohol."

In June 2015, he wrote on Facebook, “Note to all muslims, assimilate to OUR CULTURE, Leave or DIE, your choice” and posted a “Burn your local mosque” image lest anyone be confused about his world view.

His rhetoric about Obama was riddled with ugly invective. On Facebook he wrote, “That’s ok, he’s a walking dead man anyways. HEY FBI and DHS! If this stupid N----- comes back to Arizona I WILL KILL IT. Try and stop me Bitches. Seriously, you have a One Mile radius to cover in the Wild West. Yes I am dedicated to kill yer N----- and anybody who is on his Team ...”

Burleson posted that malevolent missive on March 29, 2014 -- about two weeks before he drove to Nevada prepared to make good on all his threats of violence.