French organizations protest proposed police firearm use law

Multiple organizations in France are organizing protests against a legislative proposal that would establish a presumption of legitimate use of firearms by law enforcement. Critics have dubbed the measure a ‘license to kill,’ arguing it fundamentally redefines the relationship between state force and the law.

The mobilization follows a petition that gathered over 730,000 signatures. Protesters expressed frustration that the National Assembly closed the petition without initiating a parliamentary debate, despite the number of signatures exceeding the threshold required for discussion. Organizations involved, including the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH), Amnesty International, and various labor unions, view the refusal to debate as a political choice rather than an institutional oversight.

Demonstrations are scheduled to take place in several cities, including Brest on September 19 and Dijon on September 20, as activists seek to move their opposition from digital petitions to public spaces to create political pressure.