McCloskeys Reclaim AR-15 After Years of Legal Battles
UPDATE: Mark and Patricia McCloskey have officially regained possession of their AR-15 rifle after a lengthy legal struggle lasting over five years. The couple, who gained notoriety during a 2020 incident involving Black Lives Matter protesters, picked up their weapon from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department earlier today.
The McCloskeys’ fight for their firearm was marked by three lawsuits, two trips to the Court of Appeals, and a staggering 1,847 days of legal battles. In a celebratory post on X, Mark McCloskey expressed his relief, stating, “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 legal saga began when protesters breached their private street, prompting them to brandish their firearms in a bid to protect their property. The incident escalated quickly, resulting in law enforcement seizing their weapons. Initially charged with unlawful use of a weapon by then-prosecutor Kim Gardner, the McCloskeys faced a tumultuous legal journey.
Mark McCloskey shared a video of himself retrieving the AR-15 from the police station, emphasizing the emotional and financial toll of the ordeal. “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,” he told Fox News Digital. He anticipates the return of their pistol, wielded by Patricia, by next week.
In 2021, the couple pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and harassment but were later pardoned by former Missouri Governor Mike Parson. This past month, a Missouri appeals court confirmed the expungement of their misdemeanor convictions, effectively erasing the incident from their records.
Mark McCloskey remains defiant in his belief that the fight for their rights is far from over. “If you’ve been wronged, if you’ve been overreached by the leftist government — you can’t give up,” he stated, urging fellow citizens to stand firm in the face of adversity.
The St. Louis Sheriff’s Office and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the incident and the return of the firearms.
As this story develops, many are watching the implications of the McCloskeys’ legal victory on gun rights and personal defense in Missouri and beyond. The couple’s journey has sparked a national conversation about self-defense, individual rights, and the ongoing debates surrounding gun control in the United States.
Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving situation.
