THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2022 Page 5 A reader’s perspective Saugus is welcome to a “Zoom” Book Study on The Violence Project, How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic” By the Rev. John T. Beach St. John’s Episcopal Church, Saugus E very person in this country is in anguish over our current mass shooting Epidemic. Although we are united in our anguish, our country is deeply divided over what a remedy might be. Those on the political left call for the removal of certain fi rearms. Those on the right maintain that an armed populace would keep us safer. Many advocate more robust mental health resources-though mental health professionals maintain that there are severe limitations on their ability to change the behavior of antisocial persons. Frustrated by reactionary policy conversations that never seemed to convert into meaningful action, special investigator and psychologist Jill Peterson and sociologist James Densley built The Violence Project, the first comprehensive database of mass Rev. John T. Beach shooters. Their goal was to establish the root causes of mass shootings and figure out how to stop them by examining hundreds of data points in the life histories of more than 170 mass shooters—from their childhood and adolescence to their mental health and motives. They have also interviewed the living perpetrators of mass shootings and people who knew them, shooting survivors, victims’ families, fi rst responders, and leading experts to gain a comprehensive fi rsthand understanding of the real stories behind them, rather than the sensationalized media narratives that too often prevail. For the fi rst time, instead of offering thoughts and prayers for the victims of these crimes, Peterson and Densley share their data-driven solutions for exactly what we must do, at the individual level, in our communities, and as a country, to put an end to these tragedies that have defi ned our modern era. All interested persons are welcome to join us for a discussion of this book. We will be gathering simultaneously in person and on zoom. For those who would like to fi nd out more about the work of the authors can view the TED talks of Jillian Peterson and James Densley. Participants are also invited to study the resources available through the website https://www.theviolenceproject.org/ For more information, you are welcome to email John Beach at 21st Annual Walk of Hope to Benefi t ALS Lou Gehrig’s Disease — Scheduled for September 10th (W akefield, MA) —The 21st annual Walk of Hope for ALS, a 3.5-mile walk around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefi eld to benefi t The Angel Fund for ALS Research, will be held on Saturday, September 10th . The walk begins with registration at 9 a.m. followed by the start of the walk at 11 a.m. The release of doves for those living with ALS and those who have lost their courageous to the disease will be held prior to the start of the walk. The Angel Fund for ALS Research is a nonprofi t organization dedicated to supporting ALS research at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester. ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive, always fatal neuromuscular disease which leads to muscle weakness and as it progresses, results in total paralysis and the inability to speak and swallow while the mind and senses remain intact. Walkers of all abilities are encouraged to participate as individuals or as a team. To register as a walker or to register a team, log-on to The Angel Fund website at www.theangelfund.org or call the organization at 781-245-7070. In addition to the walk around Lake Quannapowitt, the event includes activWALK OF HOPE | SEE PAGE 6 revjbeach@gmail.com or telephone at 781-2331242. Editor’s Note: The public is invited to a zoom book discussion on “The Violence Project: How to Stop A Mass Shooting Epidemic By Jillian Peterson, PhD and James Densley, PhD Winner of the 2022 Minnesota Book Award. Led by The Rev. John Beach St. John’s Episcopal Church Saugus, Mass. Rev. Beach has been the priest at St. John’s since May 2020. He had previously served as an interim priest for The Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Taunton,
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