# The Shooting of Ralph Yarl in Kansas City (he knocked on the wrong door) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803 "2023-04-17T16:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/121 "2023-04-21T21:16:58Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > This CONTINUES to be a problem in my area! I just saw a running motorcycle left unattended in my apartment building parking lot a few days ago. And I read about car break ins where someone smashed a window and stole an expensive laptop just sitting on the seat. Or worse, leaving it there and not even locking the door. Dumb, but I’m from NY where reportedly people got rid of their garbage during the garbage strike by wrapping it up nicely and leaving it in their cars. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/122 "2023-04-21T22:11:28Z")
I’ve heard of people doing that to porch pirates by putting garbage, the more disgusting the better, in Amazon boxes. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/123 "2023-04-22T00:47:30Z")
In Saskatchewan in the summer time, you always lock your car doors so you don’t come back and find a box of zucchini on the seat. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/124 "2023-04-22T00:53:43Z")
How can you live in a country that is SO Darwinian that – at any moment – you may be squashed? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/125 "2023-04-22T13:19:52Z")
That’s probably better than finding a banjo on your seat. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/126 "2023-04-22T13:33:59Z")
In the ‘a lie is half-way around the world’ way, I’m seeing tweets about the righteous shooting of the huge 6-foot black man (note actually Ralph is actually a 5’8" 140 lb boy) who was shot inside Lester’s house (ignoring the glass from the storm door where there is video of Lester cleaning it up). Also popular is the NY Post article showing the ‘No Soliciting’ sign on Lester’s door. I guess if Ralph had been attempting to sell band candy (is that still a thing?) maybe there would be an argument for ‘defending his castle’? People (not all but way too many) suck. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/127 "2023-04-22T13:51:24Z")
Around here (Vancouver Island) it’s tomatoes. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/128 "2023-04-22T13:58:20Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I guess if Ralph had been attempting to sell band candy (is that still a thing?) I don’t know if it’s still a thing, but if I had kids in band, I wouldn’t let them go door to door selling it like I did when I was that age. I hated it, it was embarrassing and awkward, but I never thought I was putting myself in mortal danger. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/129 "2023-04-22T14:00:10Z")
Clearly I need to move to Vancouver. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/130 "2023-04-22T15:32:55Z")
Vancouver isn’t on Vancouver Island (though Victoria is). Come for the vegetables, stay for the lower risk of getting shot (though we certainly do have some gun violence, unfortunately). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/131 "2023-04-23T16:24:41Z")
Mike Pence weighs in that the shooters were probably just terrified of the massive crime wave engulfing America. > **[Mike Pence defends Ralph Yarl and Kaylin Gillis shootings as response to...](https://www.rawstory.com/mike-pence-defends-ralph-yarl-and-kaylin-gillis-shootings-as-response-to-crime-wave/)** > > Former Vice President Mike Pence suggested two men who shot people because they mistakenly went to the wrong home were simply responding to "fear" of a "crime wave." > > During an interview on CBS, correspondent Robert Costa confronted Pence about a... ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/132 "2023-04-23T16:30:01Z")
Ironic, given that the shooters are the crime wave. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/133 "2023-04-23T16:41:53Z")
I Googled the ZIP code where this happened. The violent crime rate is _extremely_ low. Methinks that Mr. Lester (the shooter)'s fear may have had another source(s) for his pathological anxiety and apprehension. To be fair, though, after hearing that Russia inadvertently dropped a bomb on Belgorod – a Russian city – I did wear a Kevlar motorcycle suit on my walk with my dog today. So … there’s also that. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/134 "2023-04-23T16:43:26Z")
I think it was Walt Roosevelt who said “the only thing we have to fear is us.” Or something. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/135 "2023-04-23T18:54:18Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Mike Pence weighs in that the shooters were probably just terrified of the massive crime wave engulfing America. I’m pretty sure it was during the Trump/Pence administration that we had literal rioting in the streets. Now? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/136 "2023-04-23T19:00:10Z")
> The reading today is from the book of Punter, Chapter 9, Verse 17: “All we have to fear is me.” –Firesign Theatre ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/137 "2023-04-23T19:10:57Z")
Or to quote the late great Walt Kelly, “[We have met the enemy and he is us](https://www.newamericanjournal.net/2019/07/we-have-met-the-enemy-and-he-is-us).” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/138 "2023-04-23T19:40:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Putting all these factors together, and recognizing that they are mutually reinforcing into a nasty feedback loop, are we going to be seeing a generation of heavily armed scared-shitless but not fully competent old folks? I Why didn’t the guys who made it back from WWII with their souvenir weapons cause a wave of murders in 1995? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/139 "2023-04-23T19:45:26Z")
Maybe because soldiers who actually went to war wouldn’t shit their pants in fear because a black teenager knocked on their door? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/140 "2023-04-23T19:52:27Z")
'Zactly. They almost certainly tended to curmudgeonliness, conservatism, paranoia, and senility to the same degree as oldsters throughout history and on into the reasonable future. However they were not, a) armed to the teeth, and b) imbibing a continuous steam of blatantly false propaganda about the extreme stranger danger that can only be met with concentrated semi-automatic weapons fire delivered pre-emptively just in case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803.md?page=8)