MO: Mark and Patricia McCloskey Pardoned by Governor Mike Parson

Published reports say a Nov. 1 trial date is tentatively set for Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple that stood outside their home last year to ward off protesters. (Screen snip, YT, PBS)

U.S.A.-(AmmoLand.com)- On 30 July, 2021, Governor Mike Parson granted pardons to Mark and Patrica McCloskey, along with 10 other people. The McCloskeys had defended their home from an angry mob of political protestors. From the office of Communication of Missouri Governor Michael L. Parson:

On Friday, July 30, 2021, Governor Mike Parson granted 12 pardons and approved two commutations pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals.

Pardons:

1) Phillip Vancil
2) Roy Middleton
3) Travis Gilliland
4) Dennis Hargiss
5) Linda Floyd
6) Marlo Finner
7) Kenneth Callahan
8) John Biggs
9) Randy Huggins
10) Jeremy Murray
11) Mark McCloskey
12) Patricia McCloskey

Commutations:

1) Matthew Carrell
2) Deitra Cole

Mark and Patricia McCloskey became famous when an angry mob of demonstrators was directed into their private neighborhood by demonstration organizers. The couple was terrifically outnumbered. Both sides had weapons. The demonstrators yelled threats; the couple pointed firearms in the direction of the demonstrators. A gate to the complex was destroyed in the process.

Far Left prosecutor Kim Gardner, a supporter of Black Lives Matter, who organized the protest, charged Mark and Patricia McCloskey with “Unlawful use of Weapons”.

The charge, which flew in the face of the video evidence, ignited sympathy for Pat and Mark.  Kim Gardner, whose official title is St. Louis Circuit Attorney, used the prosecution as part of her bid for re-election. There were additional charges of evidence tampering, although the tampering seems to have been on the orders of the prosecutor’s office.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt called for the dismissal of the charges.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson said he would pardon the couple.

Evidence surfaced of political pressure by Kim Gardner’s prosecutor’s office to prosecute the McCloskeys.

As a result, combined with effective legal maneuvers by the McCloskeys, Kim Gardner and her entire office were removed from the case.

The case was handed over to special prosecutor Richard C. Callahan. Callahan was not unbiased. He had been appointed by President Barack Obama as a U.S. Attorney. He is reported to be a longtime ally of former Senator Claire McCaskill (D) MO.

Callahan looked at the case and knew he was unlikely to get a conviction on the firearms charges. He wanted a conviction, but his highest priority was to confiscate the couple’s firearms as a symbolic victory. Calahan made public statements there was no evidence anyone in the mob was armed when police had presented evidence that members of the mob were armed.

Callahan combed through the law and found a charge which would be very difficult to defend against. Then he negotiated a reasonably favorable plea deal with the McCloskeys, so he could declare victory. The plea deal included pleading guilty to a minor misdemeanor and surrendering a Bryco 38 pistol and an ordinary AR-15.  Mark McCloskey immediately purchased a replacement AR-15 type rifle.

There is a serious problem in the criminal justice system when a special prosecutor openly says his highest priority is a symbolic, political, victory.

Governor Parson was reported to have said he would pardon the McCloskeys on 19 July 2020.

A little over a year later, on 30 July 2021, he kept his promise.


About Dean Weingarten:

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

Dean Weingarten

44 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Deplorable Bill

Gardener and Sorros the billionaire, who supports her should be brought up on charges, tried in a publicly viewed court of law and if, rather when, found guilty, Gardener of tyranny and Sorros the billionaire for sedition. Both carry the same, righteous, worthy and well earned penalty. These people did nothing wrong and nothing that most any person would not have done. A riotous mob shows up on the street where you live. Your paid security guard flees for his life without calling for help or alerting you. The mob shouts exactly what they intend to do to you and… Read more »

63charlie

WELL SAID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Russn8r

The cops who arrested the McCloskeys Just OBEYED Orders, dishonored badge & oath. They should be charged too.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Mac

They should have NEVER needed a pardon! St Louis is a NAZI run blue city!

JSNMGC

Do a little more digging on this statement you made police had presented evidence that members of the mob were armed.”

Also, who arrested the McCloskeys?

Who didn’t arrest any of the mostly violent rioters?

63charlie

BECAUSE, THEY WORK FOR THE DEMARATS ………

JSNMGC

“Just following orders” – to what extent will you accept that defense?

What about Ruby Ridge?

What about Katrina?

Hunter Biden (Oct/Nov/Dec/Early Jan)?

Russn8r

BS. The Blue Thug who shot unarmed Vicky Weaver’s jaw off while she was holding her baby worked for Bush 1 & Bill Barr.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Ryben Flynn

NOW go after that corrupt Kim Gardner who charged them for defending their property.

Russn8r

Sorry, qualified immunity. Never happen.

Russn8r

They were forced to plea to a misdemeanor for good reason – would’ve cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and wrecked his US senate candidacy, and they couldn’t trust Parson to honor his promise.

Russn8r

Thanks. Good question.

APG member

What no winning about RINOS?

Russn8r

Weak.

APG member

Except that I am not a republican (your partisan brain prolly thinks the only alternative is democrat). I do like the graphic depicting what the “RINOS” have done to your party. You have been powerless to stop this! Republicans like you smuggle gun control. Your electoral process is broken. You may be suffering Stockholm Syndrome…

Last edited 2 years ago by APG member
Russn8r

Yeah right. You’re “prolly” LoLibertarian. One of the fools in our own command post: Far more destructive than communists. You’ve redistributed far more property through deluge immigration than commies ever dreamed.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
APG member

You are giving the LOLibertarians a lot of credit!They redistributed property! OH MAN TOO MUCH! LOL! They never gave financial bailouts to the automakers or bankers or placed a moratorium on evictions (talk about transfer of wealth! Didn’t murdered more people than Stalin or Mao. Hyperbole much? No republicrat would EVER talk about eliminating medicare, y’all love the Marxism.

Last edited 2 years ago by APG member
Russn8r

OMG. Wise up. Do the math. Double the population, cut the natural born citizen’s share of the national wealth in half, for starters. Then K-12 costs $25,000 per student. ETC.

APG member

Oh yeah, I forgot the LOLibertarians did this when they had control of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Next you will say they were responsible for “an insurrection on January 6th”!!!

Russn8r

More snippy lame strawmen. LoLibertarian infiltraitors & their “ideals” infect the “Republican” party, causing passive-aggressive & active support for deluge immigration, subversion of borders, amnesty, etc. LoLibertarians outside the R party push the same “ideal”, advancing it.

APG member

Snippy? LOL! You strawman the libertarian position and accuse me,apparently are unable to perceive sarcasm. Stockholm syndrome…

Russn8r

It’s hardly a strawman. LoLibertarians believe in unlimited legal immigration. You’re either lying or clueless about your own party and ideology.

Montana454Casull

Thank you Mike Parson for defending freedom and self defense .

Russn8r

Hardly. He should’ve done it long ago, but held off to hurt McCloskey’s senate run. The McCloskeys couldn’t trust him so they had to cut a deal and give up their guns.

Green Mtn. Boy

The governor of Mo. shouldn’t have had to,shouldn’t have been charged in the first place, second Trump should have before he left the office.

Russn8r

True. Gov Parsons could’ve pardoned him long ago before he had to cut a deal & lose his guns.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
TheWraith

Now pardoned, does the state have to return the “Bryco 38 pistol and an ordinary AR-15”, or the value of those items?

nrringlee

We are not a nation of laws. We are a nation of political will. This is why the McCloskey’s were prosecuted and Hunter Biden is not That being said the McCloskeys violated things more important than law when they brandished firearms at these invaders. They violated safe handling principles. Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to destroy. Crossing the T or muzzle flashing as we used to call it is an offense to that principle as is brandishing as in this case. Now, I am going to write it off as innocent ignorance and with a… Read more »

JSNMGC

Again with the “rogue.”

The enforcers followed orders to arrest the McCloskeys.

The enforcers followed orders to not arrest the mostly violent rioters.

Those enforcers aren’t “rogue.”

No orders were given to the BATFE in Oct/Nov/Dec/Early Jan to arrest Hunter Biden. The BATFE wasn’t/isn’t “rogue.”

The big question is: what order will “they” not follow?

Don, after spending a lifetime following orders, has indicated enforcers should follow all orders to enforce any upcoming law. That is chilling.

Russn8r

https://jpfo.org/articles-assd03/vanderboegh-temple-speech.htm

Righteous speech, but Mike’s not quite right about the “divine right of kings”. True protestants shrugged that off 380 years ago for the English Civil War, and again 270 years ago before the American Revolution.

Romans 13 for example has been misrepresented to mean Just OBEY Orders and “laws”, however ungodly, unconscionable or unconstitutional. It clearly was not intended to mean that, as Jonathan Mayhew makes clear in his 1750 Sermon against Unconditional Submission.
https://thefederalistpapers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Pulpit-of-the-American-Revolution-.pdf

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
JSNMGC

Mike’s discussion of the depletion of goodwill is spot on – and it’s become more relevant since he wrote that article.

Unfortunately, the people who need to read it (and consider the message and run it by people outside of their normal social circles) won’t read it.

Russn8r

That’s one reason it’s critical for every swingin’ D to read Jonathan Mayhew’s forgotten 1750 sermon, share it, ask their pastors to preach it. John Adams said “everyone” in the colonies read it. How could we have forgotten? Bring back the Spirit of 76. Too many Christians are enslaved by the mindless-submission, false-authority-worshiping misinterpretation of the New Testament.

OBEY!

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
JSNMGC

Whatever helps. Personally, my experience indicates Charlie Daniels had a point:

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/charliedanielsband/longhairedcountryboy.html

Last edited 2 years ago by JSNMGC
Russn8r

That’s crap. Comparing Jonathan Mayhew to Jimmy Swaggert and Jim & Tammy Baker? Shame on you.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
JSNMGC

Not what I did – “talking on TV” was not literal. It applies to many preachers (and many other human beings who wear their religion on their sleeves) – including many of the pastors you referenced.

Russn8r

That has nothing to do with Mayhew.

JSNMGC

I wasn’t responding to the reference to Mayhew.

I was responding to “ask their pastors to preach it.”

I wrote Whatever helps. Personally, my experience indicates Charlie Daniels had a point”

If preachers help the cause, great.

I have faith in God, I don’t put much faith in preachers. My interpretation of Daniels’ lyrics is that he had a similar view.

Deplorable Bill

Very good. Right and wrong, good and evil are defined by GOD through SCRIPTURE. Therefore, as far as I am concerned, SCRIPTURE outranks mankind’s laws. Any law that goes against SCRIPTURE is evil no matter how well intended. The question that must eventually be answered is; Who do you fear the most? Once that question is answered the real war begins. What a world this would be if people simply lived the ten commandments. What other laws would we need?

Arm up and carry on

JDT

Disgusting abuse of power….

Russn8r

Mike Parson gets NO credit for this kabuki BS. The McCloskeys couldn’t trust him for good reason. He waited until long after they had to cut a misdemeanor plea deal out of prudence & give up their guns. Parson hoped they’d spend hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars fighting it and risk felony conviction so he could pull the rug out from under them, no pardon at all or delay too long for McCloskey to legally run for senate against Closet Dem Eric Greitens or AG Eric Schmitt who as I recall did nothing for the McCloskeys.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
AZ Lefty

So not only did they plead guilty they also acknowledged guilt by accepting the pardon

Russn8r

Funny how you never say that about your pet Dems who accept pardons, some of whom are in fact innocent. Only a commie ass like you would claim an innocent man should rot in prison for life to prove a point rather than accept a pardon, and that it’s an admission of guilt if he accepts.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
JSNMGC

The plan you support relies on a fundamental assumption the dynamic of which may change. I concede to you that so far, the assumption has been correct.

63charlie

PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!!! HAVE DESTROYED AZ….