Police tear gassed protesters in Paris on Sunday, following demonstrations across France against proposed legislation that would give police greater immunity from prosecution in officer-involved shootings. Human rights groups have slammed the bill, which was approved in July by the National Assembly and is now being considered by the French senate, as giving police a greater “license to kill.” Under the proposal officer use of force would be presumed lawful by default, despite language holding police to strict standards of absolute necessity and proportionality when using their firearms. Protesters argue it will weaken scrutiny of police shootings by shifting the burden of proof away from law enforcement. Organizers say a public petition opposing the measure that had gathered more that 730,000 signatures was dismissed by the National Assembly’s law committee in July. In addition to the suppression in Paris, demonstrators in Nantes were met by police using tear gas and dispersion grenades, and eight people were arrested in the city of Rennes.

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