Self Defense as Justification for Shooting
A recent article in the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper highlights what might be some popular misconceptions about the law of self defense.
In defending herself against allegation that she shot and wounded her 22 year-old son, Juanita Rogers apparently told police during questioning that she acted in self-defense after becoming involved in a verbal argument with him.
Her claim raises some questions about the law of justification – that is, when can you shoot someone to protect yourself?
The applicable law in Louisiana is contained in Revised Statute 14:19, and states that “the use of force or violence upon the person of another is justifiable 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, and that this Section shall not apply where the force or violence results in a homicide”.
Here’s a screenshot of the original article.
