In St. Louis, Missouri, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the couple who became nationally recognized for brandishing firearms during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest, have concluded their prolonged legal fight by regaining possession of their firearms. The incident, which unfolded as protesters trespassed onto their private property, led to the couple being charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon. The conclusion of this nearly five-year saga occurred over the weekend when the McCloskeys retrieved their weapons, symbolizing their final legal victory.
The controversial episode happened amidst intense civil unrest in St. Louis, a time marked by violent protests and significant turmoil, including the shooting of several police officers. The McCloskeys, standing outside their home, Mark with an AR-15 rifle and Patricia with a handgun, confronted the protesters after they had broken through an exterior gate.
The fallout from this confrontation led to felony charges filed by former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner. However, the case faced a significant turn when Circuit Judge Thomas Clark II disqualified Gardner due to the appearance of impropriety, as she referenced the case in campaign fundraising emails. Richard Callahan, a former U.S. Attorney, was subsequently appointed as a special prosecutor.
A pivotal moment in the proceedings occurred on June 17, 2021, when the McCloskeys pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor charges and were fined. As part of their plea deal, they were ordered to surrender their firearms for destruction—a stipulation that later became a central point of contention.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson's intervention, issuing pardons to the McCloskeys post-conviction, further complicated the legal proceedings. The couple continued to fight, leading to multiple lawsuits and appeals, and ultimately, a judge granted their request to expunge their criminal records in June 2024. This decision, upheld by the Missouri Court of Appeals, was essential in enabling them to reclaim their confiscated weapons.
Mark McCloskey shared their triumph on social media, posting photographs of the returned AR-15 rifle and stating, "It only took 3 lawsuits, 2 trips to the Court of Appeals and 1,847 days, but I got my AR15 back! We defended our home, were persecuted by the left, smeared by the press, and threatened with death, but we never backed down."
The couple's resolve highlights their determination to stand their ground despite the challenges they faced. Mark McCloskey's remarks to Fox News emphasized the principle of resistance: "That gun may have only been worth $1,500 or something, and it cost me a lot of time and a lot of effort to get it back, but you have to do that. You have to let them know that you will never back down, you'll never give up."
The McCloskeys plan to pursue the return of Patricia's Bryco pistol, indicating that their legal struggles may not yet be over. This case has become emblematic of the tensions and debates surrounding property rights, self-defense, and the right to bear arms in the United States.
