Mark McCloskey, the Missouri homeowner who, alongside his wife Patricia, became a national symbol of self-defense and Second Amendment rights during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots, has secured a final legal victory — regaining possession of the AR-15 rifle he used to defend his home from a violent mob.
“It only took 3 lawsuits, 2 trips to the Court of Appeals and 1,847 days, but I got my AR15 back!” McCloskey announced on X.
“We defended our home, were persecuted by the left, smeared by the press, and threatened with death, but we never backed down.”
National Spotlight After Standing Their Ground
In one of the most iconic images of the 2020 riots, the McCloskeys were seen standing on their lawn, with Mark holding an AR-15 and Patricia holding a handgun, confronting protesters who broke through a private gate into their St. Louis property.
The BLM demonstrators were marching past private homes in a gated neighborhood, and the area had seen widespread violence in the days prior, including multiple shootings of police officers.
Despite clear evidence the mob forcibly entered the property, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner filed felony charges against the couple, accusing them of unlawful use of a weapon. The McCloskeys were also indicted for evidence tampering, after prosecutors claimed Patricia’s pistol was tampered with to hinder the investigation.
Political Prosecution and Pardon
Kimberly Gardner, who later resigned following misconduct complaints, was removed from the case in December 2020 for improperly fundraising off the prosecution. A special prosecutor was brought in, and the couple eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanors in 2021, paying small fines and surrendering their firearms, which were slated for destruction.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson issued a full pardon, as he had previously vowed, restoring their civil rights.
Court Victories and Expungement
In June 2024, a judge granted the McCloskeys’ request to expunge their records. The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld that ruling last month, clearing the way for the couple to reclaim their confiscated firearms.
This past weekend, Mark McCloskey officially recovered his AR-15, marking the end of a nearly five-year legal fight.
“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,” he told Fox News.
“But you have to do that. You have to let them know that you will never back down, you’ll never give up.”
