SHOTS IN PARK LEAVE DEATH -- AND QUESTIONS

Consider this scene:

A teen-ager on a bicycle carrying a handgun. Another teen with a handgun hidden in a portable toilet. Another teen firing a handgun in a city park. Another teen grabbing the handgun from his brother on the bike. More shots. The teen on the bike is struck by a bullet and later dies.

Does this sound like a typical afternoon at a public park in Cape Girardeau?

Shamefully, the answer is yes.

As a result of the exchange of gunfire at Indian Park in October, Jesus Sides, 19, is dead.

Robert D. Moore, 18, has been bound over for trial on second-degree murder and three other felony charges.

Chris Sparks, 16, has been turned over to juvenile officials for his involvement in the bullet-riddled afternoon.

But Solomon Sides, 17, the brother of Jesus Sides, hasn't been charged with anything after telling police and prosecutors he fired shots at Moore -- using the gun Jesus was carrying -- in order to protect about 10 children who were near the park playground.

Prosecutor Morley Swingle said it was apparent Solomon was acting in self-defense when he fired those shots.

What's wrong with this picture?

Consider the city and state laws regarding guns:

* Carrying a gun is illegal -- whether the gun is concealed or not -- in Cape Girardeau.

* State law prohibits the exhibiting, "in the presence of one or more persons, any weapon readily capable of lethal use in an angry or threatening manner."

Self-defense is, of course, a legally recognized defense.

But the question is this:

How is it possible to protect yourself with a gun in a public park unless you've already broken other laws?

Besides, Solomon Sides says he was shooting to protect nearby children, not himself.

Based on interviews with some of the teens involved in the October shooting, it appears carrying handguns is commonplace among many of the young men who gather frequently at Indian Park.

So the public might well wonder why such blatant violations of the law are being tolerated.

And the public also might question why everyone involved in the park shooting hasn't been charged.