French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez addressed concerns on Monday, September 21, during an interview on BFM TV, stating that the number of gunshots fired by the police and gendarmerie resulting in deaths has not increased. His comments were made in response to a large demonstration the previous day, where tens of thousands of French citizens protested against a proposed law that would grant law enforcement a presumption of lawful use of force. Protesters accused the law of potentially enabling excessive use of lethal force. According to the General Inspection of the Gendarmerie (IGGN), the number of people killed or "neutralized" by gendarmes using firearms has remained relatively stable, averaging between seven and eight per year. This figure reached a low of two in 2019 and peaked at 12 in 2024. In contrast, the police oversight body (IGPN) reported a different trend, noting that the number of lethal shots fired by police officers has increased from eight in 2019 to 16 in 2024. The official numbers for 2025 have not yet been released and are expected to be published on Wednesday, September 23. La France insoumise, a left-wing political party, has challenged Nunez’s claims, stating that the number of people killed by law enforcement has "exploded" over the years. Manon Aubry, a European Parliament member from the party, cited a database compiled by the media outlet Basta, which tracks all deaths during police interventions, including those resulting from medical issues, cardiac arrests, or the use of lethal or non-lethal weapons. According to this data, approximately 600 people have died during police or gendarmerie operations over the past 20 years, excluding those killed in terrorist attacks. The figures show a significant increase over time, rising from 10 deaths in 2005 to about 50 per year in recent years. This data has fueled ongoing debates about police conduct and the proposed new law, with critics arguing that the law may further erode accountability and increase the risk of lethal force being used inappropriately.