DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 235 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Provides relative to the use of force or violence against the person of another, or the
commission of a homicide, in self-defense by persons lawfully inside a place of worship.
Present law (R.S. 14:19, use of force or violence in defense) provides that the use of force or
violence upon the person of another that does not result in the person's death is justifiable under the
following circumstances:
(1)When committed for the purpose of preventing a forcible offense against the person or a
forcible offense or trespass against property in a person's lawful possession, provided that
the force or violence used must be reasonable and apparently necessary to prevent such
offense.
(2)When committed by a person lawfully inside a dwelling, a place of business, or a motor
vehicle when the conflict began, against a person who is attempting to make an unlawful
entry into the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle, or who has made an unlawful
entry into the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle, and the person using the force
or violence reasonably believes that the use of force or violence is necessary to prevent the
entry or to compel the intruder to leave the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle.
Present law (R.S. 14:20, justifiable homicide) provides that a homicide is justified under the
following circumstances:
(1)When committed in self-defense by 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.
(2)When committed for the purpose of preventing a violent or forcible felony involving danger
to life or of great bodily harm by one who reasonably believes that such an offense is about
to be committed and that such action is necessary for its prevention.
(3)When committed against a person whom one reasonably believes to be likely to use any
unlawful force against a person present in a dwelling or a place of business, or when
committed against a person whom one reasonably believes is attempting to use any unlawful
force against a person present in a motor vehicle, while committing or attempting to commit
a burglary or robbery of such dwelling, business, or motor vehicle.
(4)When committed by a person lawfully inside a dwelling, a place of business, or a motor vehicle when the conflict began, against a person who is attempting to make an unlawful
entry into the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle, or who has made an unlawful
entry into the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle, and the person committing the
homicide reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent the entry
or to compel the intruder to leave the dwelling, place of business, or motor vehicle.
Present law (R.S. 14:19 and 20) provides a presumption that a person lawfully inside a dwelling,
place of business, or motor vehicle held a reasonable belief that the use of force was necessary to
prevent unlawful entry thereto, or to compel an unlawful intruder to leave the dwelling, place of
business, or motor vehicle when the conflict began, if both of the following occur:
(1)The person against whom deadly force was used was in the process of unlawfully and
forcibly entering or had unlawfully and forcibly entered the dwelling, place of business, or
motor vehicle.
(2)The person who used deadly force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and
forcible entry was occurring or had occurred.
Proposed law retains present law, but expands its application to persons lawfully inside places of
worship. For these purposes, proposed law defines "place of worship" as any church, synagogue,
mosque, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship or other religious purpose.
Proposed law further provides that if the force or violence used by the person claiming the defense
involves the use of a firearm, or if the homicide is committed by use of a firearm, the provisions of
proposed law shall apply to the person only if the person was not prohibited from possessing a
firearm under state or federal law.
(Amends R.S. 14:19(A)(1)(b)(i) and (B)(intro. para.) and (1) and 20(A)(3) and (4)(a) and (B)(intro.
para.) and (1); Adds R.S. 14:19(E) and 20(E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal
Justice to the original bill:
1. Remove the requirement that the person may only claim a defense that involves the use
of a firearm if the person lawfully possessed the firearm under state or federal law.
2. Add a requirement that the person may only claim a defense that involves the use of a
firearm if the person was not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal
law.