Mark McCloskey Reclaims AR-15 After Legal Battles
After a lengthy five-year period filled with media scrutiny and legal challenges, Mark McCloskey has finally succeeded in reclaiming his firearm.
Back in 2020, McCloskey and his wife, Patricia, became widely known when they were seen confronting a group of Black Lives Matter protesters who had entered their private street. Mark was armed with an AR-15, while Patricia had a handgun at her side. The situation escalated when protesters broke through an iron gate that marked the entrance to their neighborhood, leading the couple to express their fear for their safety during that time.
In a statement reflective of their mindset, McCloskey noted, “You have to let them know that you will never retreat, you will never give up.”
Ultimately, McCloskey agreed to surrender the couple’s weapon as part of a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault, while Patricia accepted a plea for second-degree harassment, both being misdemeanors after originally facing felony charges. In the summer of 2021, former Missouri Governor Mike Parson cleared McCloskey of all related charges. Now, after much persistence, some of their property has been returned to them.
McCloskey shared on social media, “It took only three cases, two trips to the Court of Appeal and one, 847 days, but I got my AR-15 back!” He juxtaposed photos from 2020 with a recent image in front of his home, again holding the AR-15.
He added, “We protected our home, faced persecution from the left, were maligned by the press, and even received death threats, but we never backed down. What’s missing are Patty and the Bryco (soon),” referring to the Bryco .380 caliber pistol his wife held during the 2020 incident.
Additionally, McCloskey posted a video capturing the moment he retrieved his AR-15 from the police. “That gun could have been worth $1,500 or something. It took a lot of time and effort to get it back, but you have to do it,” he remarked. There was an underlying sentiment about personal responsibility: each American, he emphasized, has a duty to protect their freedoms, especially when facing unfair treatment.
Although he faced obstacles, McCloskey had entered a legal and moral battle during his 2022 Senate campaign with the Missouri Republicans. Notably, one of his more controversial stances was his position on abortion, which he stated couldn’t be justified, even in cases of rape or incest involving young teens. Eventually, he lost the primary to Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmidt.
He also mentioned the possibility of acquiring a Bryco pistol soon, indicating that his efforts to reclaim his rights and possessions are far from over.
