At RNC, St. Louis couple defends show of weapons

A white St. Louis couple criminally charged for waving guns during a Black Lives Matter protest outside their home made the case in their opening night speech of the Republican National Convention that they had a "God-given right" to defend themselves and their property.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, lawyers in their 60s, both spoke in the recorded message Monday night.

The McCloskey case drew Trump's attention, especially after Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed felony unlawful use of a weapon charges in July. Trump considered the charges an "egregious abuse of power," his press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, said.

Several hundred demonstrators on June 28 veered onto the private street where the McCloskey's Renaissance palazzo-style mansion sits. The McCloskeys said the protesters knocked down an iron gate and ignored a "No Trespassing" sign. Protest leaders said the gate was open and the demonstration was peaceful.