DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — A revision to Ohio's 3-year-old law allowing people to carry hidden guns takes effect on Wednesday.

Motorists with permits to carry concealed guns now will be able to do so in their cars and trucks.

Previously, the guns had to be either locked up or in plain sight of a law enforcement officer approaching a car.

Also, local gun-control ordinances will be erased in cities such as Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, which all had banned possession of assault rifles.

Also wiped off the books are statutes enacted by several communities that banned concealed weapons in parks, playgrounds and other areas.

The National Rifle Association, which pushed hard for the changes, argued that the state had a patchwork of local gun laws that varied among communities.

A person traveling through the state could be obeying the law in one town but breaking it in the next.

Several communities indicated that they would challenge the legislature's right to override local statutes, but none has taken action yet.

Next on the gun lobby wish list: Legislation shutting off access to the names of those who have been issued concealed-weapons permits.