Thoughts On Going To The Wrong Address

In the space of 10 days there have been three shootings as a result of people going to the wrong address.

On April 5th, police in Farmington, New Mexico go the wrong address during a domestic call and end up shooting and killing the homeowner Robert Dotson who was armed. While Farmington police have a lot to answer for in going to the wrong address why did the homeowner choose to confront police with a gun when they had identified themselves as police officers?

On April 13th, 16-year old Ralph Yarl goes to the wrong address in Kansas City to pick up his younger twin brothers and ends up being shot twice by the homeowner including once in the head. Yarl has survived this incident though he will likely endure years of medical and psychological treatment. His life will never be the same. This shooting has received the most attention as the victim is African-American while the shooter is white and while charged with two federal offenses has not been jailed.

On April 15th, 20-year old Kaylin Gillis is shot and killed after her friend pulls into the wrong driveway in Hebron, New York near the border with Vermont. 

Although there are variations in each of these shootings (notably with the homeowner in New Mexico being killed), the common denominator here is that paranoia strikes deep and homeowners are prepared to shoot first and ask questions later. There is a deep distrust in this country which goes beyond race, age, gender and occupational status.

Also but for the grace of G-d go I. On two occasions in my life, I have gone to the wrong address. The first time this occurred in Toronto in the late 1990’s. I was in town attending a conference and staying at the home of a friend. When I returned one evening, I accidentally went into the house next door which was identical to one where I was staying. I immediately conveyed my apologies and the people inside were good natured about it. The second time occurred in 2006 in Boston shortly after I moved into a basement apartment on The Fenway. One night, shortly after moving in I accidentally went into the apartment next door which was also identical up to and including the layout of the floor plan. My key even worked and lo and behold I surprised an Asian couple. Again apologies were conveyed and my transgression was once more forgiven.

Today, there’s a very good chance I might not have been so fortunate. Life in most parts of the world can be nasty, brutish and short at the best of times. At least where the United States is concern there is a greater volatility and violence now than there was 15-20 years ago. I don’t know the political affiliations of the homeowners in New Mexico, Missouri and in upstate New York, but we are far more receptive to conspiracy theories than we used to be. Consequently we are more fearful and more fear means more guns with more people willing to use them at the slightest provocation. While no one has a monopoly on virtue only one political party embraces conspiracy theories while encouraging people to arm themselves. What we have seen in less than a fortnight is one of Trumpism’s tragic legacies.