John Petrolino

John Petrolino is a US Merchant Marine Officer, 2024 SAF Journalist of the Year, CCRKBA Board Member, and author of Decoding Firearms: An Easy to Read Guide on General Gun Safety & Use. He is also a USCCA certified instructor, and NRA certified pistol, rifle, and shotgun instructor. Petrolino’s work primarily appears at Bearing Arms and AmmoLand News. You can find him on the web at www.thepenpatriot.com, on Twitter at @johnpetrolino, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thepenpatriot/, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@thepenpatriot, and on Instagram at @jpetrolinoiii.

johnpetrolino.com

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin

Platkin’s Faceplant. 2022 Use of Force Case Bungled. Will He Try Again?

John Petrolino September 11, 2024

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin is not one for letting the proper administration of justice interfere with his political ambitions. Suppression of vital evidence, mismanagement of investigations involving second-degree crimes, and more, are all within his wheelhouse. Given his track record, plus the AG’s one-sided stance on our civil liberties, one could logically conclude he is an incompetent leader. Will he try again?

Lessons Learned by Trying to be a Good Activist

John Petrolino September 3, 2024

John Petrolino, aka The Pen Patriot, shares with us his personal experiences and learnings about how to be a good activist in a climate where opinions, tactics, and participants vary widely. This article shares valuable lessons learned on the frontlines, from avoiding self-promotion to embracing different viewpoints.

A yellow ribbon which represents suicide prevention

Overwhelming Support for Mass. Instructors Including Suicide Awareness Info During Classes

John Petrolino March 18, 2024

The great debate about government-compelled proliferation of suicide prevention materials and resources when attending firearm training rages on. Where do you stand?

New Jersey State Troopers standing in front of the New Jersey State Police Museum

N.J. Police Subjected to Licensing. Let’s Tell Them What We Think…

John Petrolino March 13, 2024

If you’ve been resentful about the onerous requirements to obtain a NJ Permit to Carry a Handgun and just outraged about New Jersey’s tiered citizenry levels, be prepared for a good laugh. Police Officers in the state of New Jersey, some, but certainly not all, maybe even a minority, look down on law-abiding gun owners and don’t consider us equal or trustworthy when it comes to the responsibility of carrying and possibly being called on to use firearms in defense of self or others. They’re getting a taste of what us peasants have to deal with in regards to “licensing.”

Machinegun Nomenclature a Potato-Potato Moment?

John Petrolino February 2, 2024

Feeling hungry? The ATF has some word salad for you. Read on about how they insist on using the term “machine gun” for switch-converted firearms.

Person with a gun committing armed robbery.

N.J. Armed Robberies Make the Case for Carry

John Petrolino November 25, 2023

A string of robberies and assaults by armed criminals in NJ willing to use violence further reinforces the case for citizen carry. Read John Petrolino’s editorial to learn more about these crimes and how they’re being handled by the legal system.

Anthony Colandro in the Gun for Hire Podcast studio

I Don’t Have Time to Listen to Gun For Hire Radio

John Petrolino October 17, 2023

Many of us know Anthony Colandro and his Gun for Hire Podcast as a primary source of information regarding the 2nd Amendment in New Jersey. Are you one of the people that doesn’t have the time to listen for less than an hour each week yet you expect the information to be spoon fed to you on demand?

N.J. Attorney General Matt ‘Stuart’ Platkin Reminds us to Stay Vigilant

John Petrolino October 15, 2023

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin loves to stay visible on social media and through press releases. It’s unfortunate that his words are meaningless and virtually powerless. It’s all an optics play.

An image of a whining and crying little boy.

New Jersey Attorney General Snubs Question on Forthcoming PTC Process

John Petrolino June 29, 2023

Just about every gun owner in New Jersey, by now at least, has a pretty good idea that NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin doesn’t give a damn about any of our rights. He takes to Twitter on an almost daily basis to remind us that we must never cease fighting for our rights. Most recently, he Tweeted about how he’s “tired” of hearing from the public about “what’s good for public safety.” We don’t think he knows much about public safety OR civil rights.

An image of a person stealing money from another person

When Do You Not Buy Local?

John Petrolino May 21, 2023

Its no secret that you can buy your ammo cheaper online and have it delivered right to your doorstep. However, in a state like New Jersey, where the local gun shops and ranges are under constant attack by the democrat supermajority in Trenton, its extra important to support those who support you. That means: buy local. But how much it too much?

Judge Holding Back on Decision, Wants to Hear From Saint Benitez

John Petrolino April 27, 2023

It seems that all eyes are on Judge Roger “Saint” Benitez at the moment. Judge Benitez is set to rule on multiple cases involving anti-gun, 2nd Amendment infringements. Even other federal judges are awaiting Judge Benitez’s ruling in these cases before they render their own opinions on cases in front of them.

NJ Attorney General Salutes SCOTUS When It’s Beneficial To Him

John Petrolino April 21, 2023

We all know that New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin is Murphy’s lap dog. It’s pretty funny how he switches between praising the US Supreme Court and condemning the court based on how much he favors or disfavors any given ruling. They’re either fair and just or they are not, you can’t have it both ways Platkin.