Americans watched lawlessness reign supreme in major cities during the summer of 2020.
A St. Louis husband and wife went viral for standing up against the mob.
And now the iconic couple pictured defending themselves against BLM are ready for their next big fight.
Armed St. Louis couple became famous for staring down Black Lives Matter rioters
The aftermath of George Floyd’s death in the summer of 2020 saw anarchy descend on major cities across the country. Rioters affiliated with Black Lives Matter went on a rampage, burning down cities and looting. City governments stood back and let this lawlessness take over. The police pulled back after the Floyd outrage. And Democrat prosecutors turned a blind eye to the destruction that was occurring in their cities.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey became a symbol of defiance against the rioting that was gripping the country. A mob of Black Lives Matter protestors marched through their Central West End gated neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, to protest outside the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson. The couple stood guard outside their home with firearms. Mark McCloskey had an AR-15, and his wife Patricia had a Bryco .380-caliber pistol.
MISSOURI. Attorney Mark McCloskey (R) – the guy below from this infamous photo last summer – becomes the 6th GOP to enter the open US Senate race. pic.twitter.com/XC1vbGXB3y
— Politics1.com (@Politics1com) May 18, 2021
Soros-backed St. Louis prosecutor Kim Gardner indicted them for felony unlawful use of a weapon, claiming that they could have caused violence during the peaceful protests. Missouri has a castle doctrine law that allows the use of deadly force against intruders. But they were going to be targeted for an act of defiance against Black Lives Matter.
Gardner was disqualified from prosecuting the case after she used the incident in fundraising emails. A special prosecutor was appointed to take over the case. They later pled guilty to misdemeanor charges in 2021 and were forced to turn over their guns.
“A year ago, an angry mob crashed through my gate and threatened my life, my family, and my home. And I stood on the front porch with my AR-15 and backed the mob down,” Mark said after his plea. He added that he would do the same thing all over again.
Couple battles to get their famous guns back
Missouri Governor Mike Parsons (R) pardoned the McCloskeys shortly after they pleaded guilty.
“They had every right to protect their property, their home, just like any of us would. If you had a mob coming towards you, whether they tore down a gate or not, when they come on your property, they don’t have a right to do that in an aggressive manner. People have a right to protect their selves, their families, their property,” Parsons said in a 2020 interview on Hannity.
Mark McCloskey began the fight to get the couple’s guns back in 2021, after they were pardoned. But a court rejected the request, claiming that his guilt remained despite the pardon. The ruling noted that he voluntarily turned over firearms when he pled guilty.
“The law recognizes the difference between a conviction and guilt. Here, McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and voluntarily forfeited his firearms in exchange for the State dismissing a felony charge punishable by imprisonment,” an appellate court ruled in late 2023. “Thus, his inability to recover his firearms is not a legal disqualification, impediment, or other legal disadvantage that is a consequence of his conviction. Rather, the permanent forfeiture is a consequence of his guilt.”
McCloskey is continuing his fight after he had his record expunged by a court. He threatened to sue the city if they didn’t give him back his firearms. “It’s time for the city to cough up my guns,” McCloskey said. Another legal battle could be coming after St. Louis persecuted the McCloskeys for defending themselves, as Mr. McCloskey’s demand comes amid reports that he is now vowing to sue.
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