The Ohio Supreme Court has struck down a law in the city of Clyde that banned people from carrying concealed guns in a public park.
In a 4-3 decision announced Thursday, the high court said the city ordinance conflicts with Ohio's concealed carry law. The court rejected Clyde's claim that the city was exercising its home-rule powers.
The city was sued by the group Ohioans for Concealed Carry, which argued parks are prime spots for criminals and that visitors ought to be able to protect themselves.
The state Legislature in 2006 passed a concealed weapons law stripping local governments of the authority to pass tougher gun laws than the state law, which bans concealed weapons from most public buildings, including stadiums and arenas but not parks.
Clyde is about 40 miles southeast of Toledo. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)