Viral St. Louis Couple Received 50 Offers For New AR-15s After Guns Were Seized

 
  Security personnel stand on the balcony of Mark and Patricia McCloskey's home

Article by Lisette Voytko in  "Forbes":

TOPLINE

A Missouri gun store has made one of at least 50 offers to Mark and Patricia McCloskey—the couple who went viral for pointing guns at anti-racism protesters passing by their St. Louis home—for a free AR-15 rifle after authorities seized the one they brandished during the incident, a lawyer representing the couple told Forbes Sunday.

KEY FACTS

The McCloskeys’ rifle was seized by local authorities Saturday through a search warrant, reported the Associated Press, while their handgun (which the couple claimed is non-operational) was transferred to officials later that same day. 

Joel Schwartz, the McCloskeys’ criminal defense lawyer, told Forbes that the gun store, “along with 50 people have contacted them and offered to replace the AR-15,” but they are “kindly refuting” the gestures. 

The seizure of the McCloskeys’ firearms indicates the investigation is progressing, Schwartz said, “and charges are more likely than they were two days ago.”

St. Charles-based Alien Armory Tactical wrote on its Facebook page Saturday: “To the couple that had this warrant served, please come on by our shop and we will gladly rearm you with a brand new ar15 for ( FREE )” adding, “we will gladly assist you with a replacement for you to protect your private property for FREE!”

The gun shop also wrote that they would provide free training to the McCloskeys so “if anything were to happen you will be better prepared,” in apparent reference to criticism of how the couple handled their rifle and handgun during the incident.

Alien Armory Tactical owner Frank Bahr did not respond to a request for comment by Forbes.

Crucial quote

“We were hopeful and hoping that the investigation had been concluding,” Schwartz told Forbes, adding that he believes any forthcoming charges against the McCloskeys are unwarranted.

Key background

Mark and Patricia McCloskey exploded onto national headlines after they were captured on video June 28 pointing guns at protesters walking by their palatial St. Louis home. Mark wore a pink polo shirt while clutching his AR-15, while Patricia was barefoot, with one finger on the trigger of her handgun. The protesters were passing through their tony neighborhood en route to the mayor’s house to demand her resignation for an unrelated incident. The couple has claimed in interviews that they were protecting themselves from a “mob” and “horde” that would kill them and seize their home. 

 A profile of the couple published Friday by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed that both are personal injury lawyers with a long history of litigiousness, including a 1988 lawsuit used to obtain their historical home. 

What to watch for

Possible charges announced against the McCloskeys. While Schwartz didn’t think the couple’s actions violated the law, he told Forbes one likely charge could be for exhibiting, brandishing or pointing firearms in a threatening manner, before saying he had no further comments.

Surprising fact

Mark McCloskey previously pointed his rifle at a neighbor passing through a contested patch of land in their neighborhood, which the McCloskeys say is theirs, according to the AP.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/07/12/viral-st-louis-couple-received-50-offers-for-new-ar-15s-after-guns-were-seized/#fec6616697bb