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Their image became an instant flashpoint—vilified by the corporate media, idolized by Americans who believe in the right to self-defense.
Despite clear video evidence showing the mob tearing down the gate, the then-St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner pounced. Rather than prosecuting the rioters, Gardner instead charged the McCloskeys with felony unlawful use of a weapon. In an additional twist, Patricia McCloskey was later accused of evidence tampering—an allegation tied to modifications made to her firearm.
Prosecutorial Misconduct and Political Games
Gardner’s role in the case was later ruled improper after it was discovered she had used the McCloskey prosecution to raise campaign cash, prompting her removal from the case. Circuit Judge Thomas Clark II made the call, stating her actions created an appearance of impropriety.
Former U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan was brought in as special prosecutor. Eventually, the McCloskeys agreed to plead guilty to minor misdemeanors. They were fined and ordered to forfeit the weapons used in the incident, which were meant to be destroyed.
However, Missouri Governor Mike Parson stepped in shortly thereafter and pardoned the couple, keeping his earlier promise to do so if they were convicted.
A Final Victory, Years in the Making
Years passed, and the McCloskeys never stopped fighting to clear their names and reclaim their rights. In June 2024, a judge granted their request to expunge their criminal records. Then, last month, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld that expungement—clearing the path for them to legally repossess their firearms.
This weekend, the saga finally came to an end: Mark McCloskey’s AR-15 is back in his hands.
“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,” Mark told Fox News on Saturday night.
The couple also indicated they plan to recover Patricia’s Bryco pistol in the near future.
A Message to the Country
The McCloskeys’ story isn’t just about one couple in Missouri. It’s about the right to defend your home. It’s about standing firm when the mob—and the government—tries to break you.
Their victory sends a message loud and clear: the Second Amendment still matters, and Americans still have the right to protect what’s theirs.
For Mark and Patricia McCloskey, this wasn’t just about a rifle or a pistol. It was about principle—and they weren’t about to surrender.
When is someone going to investigate the whereabouts of the millions of dollars raised by BLM instigators? What was it actually used for? Did anyone pay taxes on this massive windfall? Was any of this money kicked back to demoncrat supporters? American voters have a right to know exactly where this money was used. Anyone defending their home against rioting thugs should never have been prosecuted and s/b reimbursed every cent used for legal expenses!