Self Defense
La. R.S. 14:20 — no duty to retreat for a person lawfully where he has a right to be
Force or violence is justified to prevent a forcible offense against a person, or a forcible offense or trespass against property in one's lawful possession, if it is reasonable and apparently necessary to prevent it. A killing is justified in self defense by one who reasonably believes he is in imminent danger of losing his life or receiving great bodily harm and that the killing is necessary to save himself.
No duty to retreat. A person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat, and may stand his or her ground and meet force with force. A jury may not consider the possibility of retreat in deciding whether the belief was reasonable.
- A person lawfully inside a home, a place of business or a vehicle is presumed to have reasonably believed force was necessary against someone unlawfully and forcibly entering it, if the person knew or had reason to believe that was happening.
- The aggressor, or the one who brings on the difficulty, cannot claim self defense unless he withdraws in good faith in a way the other side knows or should know.
- Force, or a killing, in defense of another person is justified when the person attacked could justifiably have used it himself and intervening is reasonably believed necessary.
Whether a particular use of force was justified is decided on its own facts. A particular case is a question for a licensed Louisiana attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- La. R.S. 14:19 — Use of force or violence in defense
- La. R.S. 14:20 — Justifiable homicide
- La. R.S. 14:21 — Aggressor cannot claim self defense
- La. R.S. 14:22 — Defense of others
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Louisiana attorney.