SALEM -- An Oregon lawmaker has introduced legislation to do away with a long-obsolete section of the Oregon Constitution that bans anyone who participates in a duel from holding public office.

If passed, Senate Joint Resolution 44 would ask voters to approve repealing Article II, Section 9, which reads: "Every person who shall give, or accept a challenge to fight a duel, or who shall knowingly carry to another person such challenge, 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 resolution's sponsor, Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, said the legislation amounts to "constitutional clean up."

"Lots of people point to this or that constitutional clause as a requirement when in fact the constitution is full of old arcane requirements," said Boquist, whose Capitol office is decorated with a medieval-style soldier's helmet, shield and sword.

The reason Boquist's resolution asks voters to repeal Article II, Section 9 is because although lawmakers can recommend amendments to the Oregon Constitution, but they must be adopted by voters.

It's not unheard of for states to have outmoded laws preventing duels. The oath of office for some Kentucky officials includes an express agreement not to duel, according to the Library of Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives also passed legislation in 1839 saying that anyone who participates in a duel within Washington D.C. "shall be punished by imprisonment and confinement to hard labor in the penitentiary" for up to 10 years.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

GFriedman@Oregonian.com; 503-221-8209