SLS 12RS-1399 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
SENATE BILL NO. 719
BY SENATOR DORSEY-COLOMB
CRIME/PUNISHMENT. Provides for legislation relative to justifiable homicide. (8/1/12)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 14:20 (E), relative to justifiable use of force or violence; to provide for an2
exception for a presumption in the use of force or violence under certain3
circumstances; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 14:20 (E) is hereby enacted to read as follows: 6
ยง20. Justifiable homicide 7
* * *8
E. The provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) and Subsection C of this Section9
shall not apply when the person committing the homicide initially incites the use10
of force or violence against another with the intent to use such force as an11
excuse to inflict bodily harm upon another or the intentional placing of another12
in reasonable apprehension of receiving great bodily harm.13 SB NO. 719
SLS 12RS-1399 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michael Bell.
DIGEST
Present law provides that one who reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of
losing his life or receiving great bodily harm and that the killing is necessary to save himself
from that danger is justified in such killing.
Present law provides that a person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and who is in a
place where he or she has a right to be shall have no duty to retreat before using deadly force
and may stand his or her ground and meet force with force.
Proposed law provides that a homicide is not justified when the person committing the
homicide initially incites the use of force against another with the intent to use such force
as an excuse to inflict bodily harm upon another or the intentional placing of another in
reasonable apprehension of receiving great bodily harm.
Effective August 1, 2012.
(Adds R.S. 14:20(E))