McCloskeys' Firearms Recovered After Years of Legal Battle in St. Louis

The McCloskey couple's firearms, seized five years ago following a contentious encounter with Black Lives Matter protesters in St. Louis, have finally been returned to them. The incident, which drew widespread media attention, involved Mark and Patricia McCloskey defending their property as protesters entered their private neighborhood. After a prolonged legal battle comprising three lawsuits, two appeals, and nearly five years, Mark McCloskey announced on social media that he had reclaimed his AR-15 rifle. "It took 3 lawsuits, 2 Court of Appeals trips, and 1,847 days, but I finally got my AR-15 back! We stood our ground, faced persecution, media smears, and threats, yet we remained steadfast," he stated. The confrontation began in June 2020 when the couple appeared on their lawn armed, responding to protesters demanding Mayor Lyda Krewson's resignation over police misconduct issues. Video footage of the incident went viral, showing Mark with an AR-15 and Patricia with a pistol. Initially charged with assault and harassment, the McCloskeys faced fines, and the government confiscated their firearms as part of a plea deal. Missouri's laws, including stand-your-ground and castle doctr...