A gun-toting couple who went viral after pointing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters last year pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges on Thursday.
Patricia McCloskey agreed to a charge of harassment and a $2,000 (€1,680) fine, while her husband, Mark, was fined $750 for fourth-degree assault. The weapons the couple used — a military-style rifle for the husband and a handgun for the wife — are also be forfeited and destroyed.
I seem to recall that the guns had been disabled so they would be safe to bring out in the courtroom for a trial. If so, losing them would not be a major loss.
Neither will face jail time.However,
a good lie finds more believers than a bad truth...
the wealthy couple can still legally own firearms and, as professional lawyers, can still practice law.
A weak slap on the wrist.
Mark McCloskey described the outcome as a "good day" for him and his wife. He also agreed with the prosecutor that he had placed other people "in imminent risk of physical injury."With non-working guns? I s’pose they could have been used as clubs, or thrown at the crowd in extremis...
"I sure as heck did, that's what the guns were there for. And I'd do it again anytime a mob approaches me ... because that's what's kept them from destroying my house and my family," he said from the courthouse steps.WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BLM MARCH LAST JUNE?
The couple pulled out their guns and confronted Black Lives Matter marchers when they approached their mansion in St. Louis. At the time, the protesters were walking over private property owned by a trust, which is funded by residents of the area. There was no evidence that any of the protesters threatened the couple.
Prosecutor Richard Callahan has said the marchers simply made a "wrong turn."
| His boss, St. Louis circuit attorney Kim Gardner, is one of the Soros district attorney investments. |
The couple was previously indicted on felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon and evidence tampering, for allegedly altering the pistol Patricia McCloskey was holding.
Callahan later amended the charges to misdemeanors and dropped the tampering count. He said the misdemeanor plea was reasonable adding that the McCloskeys called the police, no shots were fired and no one was hurt.
"But I think that their conduct was a little unreasonable in the end,'' he said. "I don't think people should view this case as some type of betrayal or assault on the Second Amendment. We still have the Second Amendment rights. It's just that the Second Amendment does not permit unreasonable conduct.''
HOW DOES THE CONFRONTATION PLAY INTO US POLITICS ON THE LAM?
The incident went viral online, with both sympathizers of then-President Donald Trump
...His ancestors didn't own any slaves...and the supporters of Black Lives Matter discussing the couple's actions. Many view them as heroes. Missouri's Republican Governor Mike Parson pledged to pardon the couple if they were convicted.
In May this year, Mark McCloskey announced he was running for US Senate.
In a campaign video, McCloskey claimed that an "angry mob came to destroy my house and kill my family" but he took "a stand against them."
"I will never back down," he says in the ad.
Related:
Mark and Patricia McCloskey: 2020-09-30 St. Louis prosecutors will NOT pursue nine people who were charged with trespassing at the home of gun-wielding couple who pointed weapons at them
Mark and Patricia McCloskey: 2020-09-02 Meet Cori Bush: The Latest Socialist ‘Squad' Member Headed To Congress
Mark and Patricia McCloskey: 2020-09-01 St Louis lawyer couple who aimed guns at BLM protesters appear in court to face charges of unlawful use of a weapon
Mark and Patricia McCloskey: 2020-09-30 St. Louis prosecutors will NOT pursue nine people who were charged with trespassing at the home of gun-wielding couple who pointed weapons at them
Mark and Patricia McCloskey: 2020-09-02 Meet Cori Bush: The Latest Socialist ‘Squad' Member Headed To Congress
Mark and Patricia McCloskey: 2020-09-01 St Louis lawyer couple who aimed guns at BLM protesters appear in court to face charges of unlawful use of a weapon
Related:
Kim Gardner: 2020-12-11 Judge dismisses St. Louis prosecutor from McCloskey case
Kim Gardner: 2020-09-30 St. Louis prosecutors will NOT pursue nine people who were charged with trespassing at the home of gun-wielding couple who pointed weapons at them
Kim Gardner: 2020-08-06 Soros Boosts St. Louis Prosecutor After Indictment of Gun-Toting Couple
Kim Gardner: 2020-12-11 Judge dismisses St. Louis prosecutor from McCloskey case
Kim Gardner: 2020-09-30 St. Louis prosecutors will NOT pursue nine people who were charged with trespassing at the home of gun-wielding couple who pointed weapons at them
Kim Gardner: 2020-08-06 Soros Boosts St. Louis Prosecutor After Indictment of Gun-Toting Couple