Case could alter U.S. gun control laws

WASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- A U.S. federal appeals court ruling striking down a gun control law resulted from the work of a group of liberal law professors, The New York Times reported.

The ruling is an indication that the courts are shifting their reading of the Second Amendment -- from an emphasis on the government's right to bear arms to the rights of individuals -- the newspaper said.

Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe is part of the team urging the courts to re-examine the matter of whether the Second Amendment protects an individual right.

"My conclusion came as something of a surprise to me, and an unwelcome surprise," Tribe told the newspaper. "I have always supported as a matter of policy very comprehensive gun control."

The March decision in Parker vs. District of Columbia -- was the first to strike down a U.S. gun control law on Second Amendment grounds. If the case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, it could play a major role in the future direction of gun control laws, the newspaper said.