Politicians in Oregon could once again start settling disputes with duels

Political reporter(wp/es):

Politicians in Oregon may soon fight duels again as it emerged voters could be asked if they want the 172-year-old ban on them to be lifted.

Voters in the US state could see the question appear on their general election ballots if discussions on the issue lead to an agreement.

The constitutional ban on public officials duelling, the old fashioned way of resolving disputes, was signed into law in 1845.

But if the ban is repealed, the state could see a bloody history of politicians shooting each other revived.

In 1804, a bitter rivalry between US vice president Aaron Burr and the nation’s first treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton was settled with a fatal gunshot.

It was Hamilton who lost the squabble and died of a gunshot wound.

If it passes both chambers, the repeal will then be referred to voters for the final say.

During this week's hearing, chief sponsor of the peculiar proposal Brian Boquist said the article was not the only surprising constitutional provision.

He told the committee: "I want you to know that most of your stationery is probably in violation of the law because we have a constitutional clause as to how we can use our stationery.”

Mr Boquist acknowledged the best option would be to tackle all of these constitutional issues at once, rather than piece-by-piece as his proposal would do.

The state's constitution still makes references to slavery and titles of family nobility, he said.

Mr Boquist added: "The problem with ignoring all those things is that eventually they catch up to us."

Democratic senator Ginny Burdick, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, kicked off the discussion by jokingly calling it "the bill I've been waiting all session for".

All proposals have until April 18 to be moved on from their initial policy committees or be referred to a special committee or they will fail.