About Me

John Petrolino, The Pen Patriot,  is a United States Merchant Marine Officer, writer, firearms instructor, and author of Decoding Firearms: An Easy to Read Guide on Basic Gun Safety & Use.  Petrolino matriculated at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he received a BS in Marine Engineering.  John's call to write developed towards the end of high school and he has continued to develop both his style and the scope of content he covers.

With literary interests deeply rooted in the Beat Generation, through the 2000's, Petrolino buried himself in the world of poetry.  From 2005 to 2010, John often accompanied Beat legend David Amram as a guest reader during monthly jazz-poetry readings at the now defunct  Cornelia Street Cafe, several Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festivals, and an event at Georgian Court University.  John's work fluxed in the 2000's working on an Independent film, "Indiscretion", several of his own screen plays, and had two books of poetry published, Galleria and Congo Lights.

Through the 2010's and beyond, Petrolino's work primarily focused on the actual rights surrounding the literature he loves and freedom represented in those works.  Taking a closer look at what American rights are, and the true and earnest preservation of them became part of his creative process.

His work on the Second Amendment has appeared at Bearing Arms, AmmoLand News, Second Press, The Truth About Guns, The Save New Jersey Blog, JM4 Tactical Blog, News2A.com, Shooting News Weekly, Armed Lifestyle, and The Shore News Network.

In 2020, Petrolino released his 3rd book, Decoding Firearms: An Easy to Read Guide on Basic Gun Safety & Use.  The book focuses on what a new gun owner may need to know to get started or to perhaps serve to inform someone that might have a curiosity in the world of guns.  A good resource for both veteran and new shooters alike.

In 2022, Petrolino was named the "Media Figure of the Year" by the San Diego County Gun Owners PAC and "Blogger of the Year" by the Second Amendment Foundation.

In 2024 Petrolino was one of the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners "Patriot Pin" recipients and he was named "Journalist of the Year by the Second Amendment Foundation. At the 2024 Gun Rights Policy Conference, Petrolino was elected to serve on the board of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

John believes that learning is a life-long journey and an important part of leading an enriched life.

A sampling of some of John's work can be viewed in "Articles & Publications"

• 2021 video for Alternative Mass Media Conference, "Who do you work for?"
• 2022 presentation at Alternative Mass Media Conference, "Doing Research."
• 2022 talk at Gun Rights Policy Conference, "Being Part of the Big Tent."
• 2024 presentation at Alternative Mass Media Conference, "Blogger to Journalist: Bridging the Gap."
• 2024 presentation at Gun Rights Policy Conference, "Systemic Racism in N.J.'s Permitting System."

Petrolino's creative writing has been featured in numerous publications online and in print, notably "Lips Magazine", "Exit 13 Magazine", "The Journal of NJ Poets & Poetry", "The Idiom Magazine", "Eviscerator Heaven", "The Bradstock Journal", "Write On!! Magazette", "The Working Tools Magazine", "The Storm Generation Magazine" and on poetryvlog.com, identitytheory.com, theravenspearch.com, and wordriot.org.  John was also  featured in the World Spirit film "Greenwich Village."