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| Oregonians could vote to bring back duels for public officials |
| 2017-04-12 |
| [Independent] People in Oregon might be surprised what they are being asked to vote for or against at the next state election. Republicans have proposed to scrap the 172-year-old ban on duels for public officials in an attempt to highlight how many arcane laws are still upheld by the state constitution. "They decided that it would not be very civil if two members of the legislature disagreed and then shot each other on the front steps of the provisional capitol," Republican Senator Brian Boquist said at the first committee hearing. If his proposal, known as Senate Joint Resolution 44, passes both houses in the state Senate, the people of Oregon will have the final say, rather than the Governor. Under the current constitution, Article II, Section 9 states that anyone who offers, accepts, or knowingly participates in a "challenge to fight a duel ... or who shall agree to go out of the State to fight a duel, shall be ineligible to any office of trust, or profit." The rule came into effect in 1845, more than four decades after US Vice President Aaron Burr shot dead the first Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton after a bitter rivalry. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #7 Not bad Beso but I think I'd want to bring back sabers or maybe go ethnic with machetes. First they have to sign organ donor cards. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2017-04-12 15:20 |
| #6 Grenades and trench knives. Yes, in a maze of trenches. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2017-04-12 15:04 |
| #5 I propose for Oregon that all the friends of the two duelists stand behind them. In case one of them misses. |
| Posted by: gorb 2017-04-12 14:55 |
| #4 Portland is a little different. It's been a long time since I've been there but it was a little different in the early 70s too. Portland got shanghaied a long time ago. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2017-04-12 10:43 |
| #3 In Portland, it could be 'dueling bongs and dildos'. Not so much fun to watch........for me anyway. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2017-04-12 10:21 |
| #2 Pay for View could help the state's coffers. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2017-04-12 09:34 |
| #1 Politician duels might replace pro-football on TV. Pro football has gotten much too racist and political and IMAO not worth watching anymore. Imagine, two politicians who you feel screwed you, both going at it in a duel--hmmm, it just might sell. Term limits for one of them. Also, bring back caning to the Senate--CSPAN could carry it (cynicism). |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2017-04-12 08:39 |