When it comes to concealed weapons, Salem parks are within Ohio law.

Salem Parks Director Steve Faber said licensed concealed carry permit holders are allowed to carry their firearms in Salem parks.

Last week, the Ohio Supreme Court with a 4-3 decision struck down a ban on carrying such weapons that was passed by Clyde, a Sandusky County city, shortly after the Ohio General Assembly first instituted the concealed carry measure.

Faber said the city had discussions about the concealed carry law when it was first passed in 2004 and was told that it could not ban concealed carry permit holders from carrying their guns in city parks.

Ohio's concealed carry law allows persons 21 and older to receive a concealed handgun license provided they receive a minimum of 12 hours of handgun training from a certified instructor, demonstrate competence with a handgun through written and shooting tests, pass a background check and meet the residency requirements.The licenses are issued by county sheriffs.

Ohioans for Concealed Carry, the gun-rights organization that challenged the ban, argued parks are a prime spot for violent crime and that citizens ought to be able protect themselves.

Lawyers for Clyde argued the city had the power to pass the ban because of home rule powers granted to it in Article 18 of the Ohio Constitution.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O'Donnell wrote for the majority, " Because the ordinance is an exercise of the municipality's police power that conflicts with a general law, the ordinance is unconstitutional."

O'Donnell also wrote, "The General Assembly could not have been more direct in expressing its intent for statewide comprehensive handgun-possession laws."

Bob Clutter of Leetonia, a local sportsman, said, "Towns, townships and municipalities should not be allowed to override the law." Clutter also said he believes the law should be uniform across all communities in Ohio.

Ohio's concealed carry law prohibits the carrying of hidden handguns into police stations, sheriffs' offices, prisons, airports, mental institutions, courthouses, government buildings, universities, churches, child day-care facilities, bars, restaurants or arenas if they serve alcohol, school property and any place deemed off-limits under federal law.

Faber said he couldn't say whether individuals have carried concealed weapons in Salem's parks because so long as it isn't necessary for them to use their weapon and they follow the law nobody would ever know.