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McCloskeys: Couple who pointed guns at BLM protesters indicted on firearm charges, hailed as 'national heroes'

Mark McCloskey blamed the 'leftist, Democrat government of the city of St. Louis' for the charges, claiming that they were 'doing no more than exercising our Second Amendment rights'

The St Louis couple who notoriously pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters were indicted on firearm and tampering charges on Tuesday, October 6. Mark and Patricia McCloskey each face two counts of exhibiting a weapon and tampering with evidence after the couple appeared before a judge Tuesday. The charges included tampering of Patricia’s pistol which she was seen brandishing outside their mansion in the West Central End as Black Lives Matter protesters marched by on June 28. She handed over the pistol to the police in July. 

Mark, who was also photographed along with his wife holding a semi-automatic rifle blamed the “leftist, Democrat government of the city of St. Louis" for the charges, claiming that they were “doing no more than exercising our Second Amendment rights.” “We didn't fire a shot. People were violently protesting in front of our house and screaming death threats and threats of rape and threats of arson. Nobody gets charged but we get charged,” Mark said while departing Carnahan Courthouse on Tuesday. “The government chooses to persecute us for doing no more than exercising our right to defend ourselves, our home, our property and our family and now we're getting [dragged] here time after time after time and for what?”

He added that the indictment could jeopardize their licenses to practice law after they were charged with felonies as they face four years of punishment. Information on the specifics or basis of the tampering charge has not been shared with the McCloskeys’ lawyer, Joel Schwartz, yet, but the grand jury was convinced with the prosecutor's argument that there was enough evidence against the McCloskeys to proceed to trial.

Schwartz told NBC News that the charges were “baseless." "I am not surprised that the grand jury indicted them but I'll certainly be interested in what was presented to the grand jury," Schwartz told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

It all started when St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner charged the McCloskeys with felony unlawful use of a weapon after they waved guns “in a threatening mater at those participating in a nonviolent protest.” Although the couple claimed that protesters broke a gate of their home, Black Lives Matter members said they were merely passing by. The pair were even invited to speak during the virtual Republican National Convention (RNC) and have received support from President Donald Trump, Missouri Governor Mike Parsons and other conservatives. 

After the judge's decision on Tuesday, Mark took to Twitter to write: "So we got indicted today on two charges, displaying and tampering. We have no info on the tampering, no idea with what we are supposed to have tampered. Upside down world!"

And within minutes there was a rally of supporters taking their side and sympathizing with them in the comments section. "UNBELIEVABLE! What the hell is wrong with America! That’s why Trump needs to win. Set the world straight again!" one of them wrote while another said, "THIS IS SUCH AN OUTRAGE! An American couple, eating dinner in their private neighborhood on their patio with their dog, and they get invaded and property trespassed by rioters, threatened, one guy pointed an AR-15 at them on the tape, and it is THEY who get INDICTED? CRAZY WORLD!" A third added, "This is an outrage. Many of us are with you in spirit and prayer." 

Another quipped, "You all@did exactly what most of us gun owners would do. If you hadn’t who know what the outcome would have been. We now see what can happen to any American that protects themselves and their home even without firing a round. My thoughts are with you all." And one more user said, "It’s such a travesty! I pray you’ll be vindicated in a way that closes the possibility of further injustices like this. Best wishes to you. I’m sorry that you have to bear this burden but I believe you’ll be National heroes in the end."