On June 28, 2020, Mark and Patty McCloskey displayed firearms in defense against a BLM mob that had illegally entered their property. The case gained national attention because the radical prosecutor in St. Louis, Kim Gardner, decided to prosecute Mark and Patty. St. Louis police Detective Sgt. Burgdorf found evidence to back up the claim that Mark and Patty acted reasonably. Gardner insisted on prosecuting the McCloskeys.
Gardner was eventually removed from the case for a conflict of interest. A special prosecutor was appointed, who had his own problems. The McCloskeys, successful attorneys, decided to cut a plea deal on June 23, 2021, which minimized their expenses at the time. Governor Mike Parson had promised a pardon. The special prosecutor insisted that the deal include surrendering their firearms. He made this statement:
“I thought the most important aspect was to forfeit and destroy the guns,” Callahan said. “Some groups wanted to buy the gun and use it as a trophy display.”
Picking up the AR at the police property room@ pic.twitter.com/Jcp16tYhpA
— Mark McCloskey (@mccloskeyusa) August 1, 2025
On July 30, 2021, Governor Mike Parson granted pardons to Mark and Patricia McCloskey and ten other people.
On July 6, 2024, a Missouri judge ordered the convictions of Mark and Patricia expunged. Mark McCloskey demanded the firearms be returned.
Now, in August of 2025, Mark McCloskey has been able to legally retrieve his AR-15 rifle from the St. Louis Police Department. To quote Mark from X:
It only took 3 lawsuits, 2 trips to the Court of Appeals and 1,847 days, but I got my AR15 back! We defended our home, were persecuted by the left, smeared by the press, and threatened with death, but we never backed down What’s missing-Patty and the Bryco (soon)
It only took 3 lawsuits, 2 trips to the Court of Appeals and 1,847 days, but I got my AR15 back! We defended our home, were persecuted by the left, smeared by the press, and threatened with death, but we never backed down
What’s missing-Patty and the Bryco (soon) pic.twitter.com/NOEyzyXZWM— Mark McCloskey (@mccloskeyusa) August 1, 2025
Kim Gardner was one of a series of far-left prosecutors that the Soros-funded constellation of non-profits was able to place in office. The results for the public they were elected to serve were horrible. When the people tasked with enforcing the law believe laws targeting criminals are fundamentally unjust, it is not surprising that the system is turned upside down. The McCloskey event happened during the height of the BLM insanity.
Now, more than five years later, Mark McCloskey, a prominent lawyer, has finally been able to retrieve a firearm that was justifiably used to defend himself and his property. The firearm his wife, Patty, had used is expected to be returned shortly. Patty is another prominent lawyer. Working as a team, the couple was very successful. This occurred in a deep red state, with significant safeguards at the state level, to aid and protect Second Amendment rights. The McCloskeys were targeted specifically because of their exercise of Constitutional rights.
Consider the difficulty an ordinary citizen might have in attempting to fight these odds against federal prosecutors. You can see why federal prosecutors obtain convictions in about 99% of their cases. The vast majority of people accept plea deals. This is why the restoration of the Republic is so important. It is why the political counterrevolution of the Trump administration is so important. We are heading in the right direction. The margin is thin.
We are winning because the Constitution, the people, and the facts are on our side.
I often think we are winning because of Divine Providence. The founders believed in God and Divine Providence. They faced long odds, fearful suffering, and horrendous sacrifice. In the end, they triumphed.
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.
Maybe he won’t be a Democrat anymore? Who knows. Also, tone down that suit color.
I’m surprised he didn’t get a damaged rusted lump of metal back.
Anytime authorities must return impounded firearms they usually stall, but 5 years must be a new record!