A couple from St. Louis, who gained significant attention in 2020 for brandishing their firearms, has successfully regained their semi-automatic rifle after a lengthy legal battle. This followed an incident when Black Lives Matter protesters marched outside their home.
Authorities had confiscated the AR-15 over five years ago. After a complex legal process, the weapon has now been returned to Mark and Patricia McCloskey.
“It only took three cases, two trips to the Court of Appeal, and 847 days, but I’ve got the AR-15 back!” Mark McCloskey shared on his social media account, along with photos of himself holding the rifle.
He expressed the couple’s determination, stating, “We defended our property, faced attacks from the left, dealt with media scrutiny, and received death threats, but we never backed down.”
In another post, he shared a video of his experience reclaiming the gun at the police station. “It might have been worth around $1,500 or so. It took quite a bit of time and effort to get it back, but it’s necessary,” he noted, mentioning that he has other firearms. “You have to stand your ground, never give in.”
McCloskey hopes that a pistol, which his wife Patricia wielded during the standoff, will be returned to them soon, as it is currently in possession of the St. Louis Sheriff’s Office, while the AR-15 will become the responsibility of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police.
“Each of us has a personal responsibility to uphold our freedom and our Democratic Republic,” McCloskey emphasized.
In June 2020, the couple drew massive attention when a video showed them confronting protesters who had broken through their property gates and disregarded a “no trespassing” sign. Despite the tension, no injuries occurred.
Following this event, Mark McCloskey was charged with unlawful use of a weapon by then-Democratic prosecutor Kim Gardner. However, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmidt quickly sought to dismiss those charges.
In 2021, the McCloskeys pleaded guilty to lesser charges but were later pardoned by Missouri Governor Mike Parson. Last month, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of McCloskey’s misdemeanor conviction.
McCloskey told digital media, “If you feel wronged, especially when facing government overreach, don’t give up. You can’t let them take any ground.”
The St. Louis authorities did not respond immediately to requests for comments regarding this case.
