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Brownsville mans has passion for firearms
By SERGIO CHAPA
The Brownsville Herald
October 31, 2005 — Al Petrarca bought his first gun from the Western Auto Parts Store in downtown Brownsville for less than $20 when he was 16 years old.
The Brownsville teenager walked out of the East Elizabeth Street store with a .22-caliber rifle and a box of ammunition and then went home.
Petrarca said he had just finished a shooting safety and training course sponsored by the Brownsville Police Department and he had become fascinated with guns.
The now-58-year-old firearms instructor said his parents didn’t think anything of his purchase. He would take his new rifle for target practice in a wooded area behind a little league park near the Fort Brown Golf Course.
Petrarca said he wasn’t a good shot during those first target practice sessions, but he said he improved with continued practice.
“It was different back then,” Petrarca said. “There were no background checks and no age limit. Everybody who bought guns used them for sport.”
Petrarca said he never bought another weapon until after serving a 10-year tour with the U.S. Army in Vietnam.
The veteran returned home, where he joined the Brownsville Police Department, got married and raised two daughters.
Although his wife and daughters do not share his fascination for guns, Petrarca said he continued with his hobby and used outlets such as hunting to relax and to further perfect his skill.
Petrarca said he taught hundreds or thousands of others to shoot guns after becoming a firearms instructor for both the Brownsville Police Department and Texas Southmost College’s Police Academy.
“What I’m most proud of is that I’ve taught all those people, and nobody’s gotten hurt,” Petrarca said. “To me, being safe is more important than being a good shot.”
After 25 years of service, Petrarca retired from the Brownsville Police Department but only stayed retired for three years before he became commissioned as a bailiff for the 404th state District Court in January.
“I felt like I lost my sense of purpose,” Petrarca said of retirement. “I’ve been in public service all my life.”
Petrarca said he worked with Chief Bailiff Raymond Shears to develop a firearms training class and building safety plan shortly after a prisoner on a shooting rampage at an Atlanta courthouse left four dead in March.
Bailiff Roy Garcia with the 107th state District Court said co-workers and friends are always amazed by Petrarca’s skill with firearms and his ability to identity any gun with his eyes closed.
“You have to know,” Petrarca said. “Part of firearms safety is knowing the weapon you’re using.”
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_more.php?id=67836_0_10_0_C
By SERGIO CHAPA
The Brownsville Herald
October 31, 2005 — Al Petrarca bought his first gun from the Western Auto Parts Store in downtown Brownsville for less than $20 when he was 16 years old.
The Brownsville teenager walked out of the East Elizabeth Street store with a .22-caliber rifle and a box of ammunition and then went home.
Petrarca said he had just finished a shooting safety and training course sponsored by the Brownsville Police Department and he had become fascinated with guns.
The now-58-year-old firearms instructor said his parents didn’t think anything of his purchase. He would take his new rifle for target practice in a wooded area behind a little league park near the Fort Brown Golf Course.
Petrarca said he wasn’t a good shot during those first target practice sessions, but he said he improved with continued practice.
“It was different back then,” Petrarca said. “There were no background checks and no age limit. Everybody who bought guns used them for sport.”
Petrarca said he never bought another weapon until after serving a 10-year tour with the U.S. Army in Vietnam.
The veteran returned home, where he joined the Brownsville Police Department, got married and raised two daughters.
Although his wife and daughters do not share his fascination for guns, Petrarca said he continued with his hobby and used outlets such as hunting to relax and to further perfect his skill.
Petrarca said he taught hundreds or thousands of others to shoot guns after becoming a firearms instructor for both the Brownsville Police Department and Texas Southmost College’s Police Academy.
“What I’m most proud of is that I’ve taught all those people, and nobody’s gotten hurt,” Petrarca said. “To me, being safe is more important than being a good shot.”
After 25 years of service, Petrarca retired from the Brownsville Police Department but only stayed retired for three years before he became commissioned as a bailiff for the 404th state District Court in January.
“I felt like I lost my sense of purpose,” Petrarca said of retirement. “I’ve been in public service all my life.”
Petrarca said he worked with Chief Bailiff Raymond Shears to develop a firearms training class and building safety plan shortly after a prisoner on a shooting rampage at an Atlanta courthouse left four dead in March.
Bailiff Roy Garcia with the 107th state District Court said co-workers and friends are always amazed by Petrarca’s skill with firearms and his ability to identity any gun with his eyes closed.
“You have to know,” Petrarca said. “Part of firearms safety is knowing the weapon you’re using.”
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_more.php?id=67836_0_10_0_C
