A New London judge has let a disabled man continue his lawsuit seeking to overturn the state�s new gun law limiting assault weapon ownership.

Scott Ennis, of New London, has a bleeding condition that causes him severe joint damage and says he needs to use weapons that have features, such as a forward pistol grip, that the law says make them assault weapons.

�This is not the end of the case, but of course we�re very pleased we�re getting recognized,� Ennis said Monday.

New London Superior Court Judge James Devine ruled Thursday, however, that Ennis� organization, Disabled Americans for Firearms Rights, does not have the right to sue the state; only Ennis individually does.

�It�s only the first hurdle we�ve got to get over,� Ennis� attorney, Scott Camassar, said. �The harder part is yet to come.�

Under the new law, sales of assault weapons and firearms with certain military-style features are banned, but owners of existing assault weapons can keep them provided they register them with the state.

Ennis owns an AR-15 rifle, which he has registered, he said.

The law keeps him from getting parts for his weapon if he needs them, he said.

Camassar said he hopes to add several other members of Ennis� group as plaintiffs.

The attorney also plans to continue to investigate the issue. For example, Camassar said, a firearms expert called the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle �the ideal self-defense weapon.�

�There�s thousands of disabled Connecticut residents that can only use the type of firearms that they banned,� Ennis said.