A Missouri state senator proposed reinstating a practice used by America’s founding fathers to settle disputes as tensions flare in the statehouse: duels.
“If a senator’s honor is impugned by another senator to the point that it is beyond repair and in order for the offended senator to gain satisfaction, such senator may rectify the perceived insult to the senator’s honor by challenging the offending senator to a duel ,” states the proposal which was written by state Sen Nick Schroer.
“The trusted representative, known as the second, of the offended senator shall send a written challenge to the offending senator. The two senators shall agree to the terms of the duel, including choice of weapons, which shall be witnessed and enforced by their respective seconds,” it continues.
“The duel shall take place in the well of the senate at the hour of high noon on the date agreed to by the parties to the duel.”
Missouri Senate Democrats underscored the ongoing bitterness on the other side of the aisle, posting the proposal on X with the caption: “The Missouri Republican Civil War continues to escalate as a member of the Freedom Caucus faction has filed a proposed rule change to allow Senators to challenge an ‘offending senator to a duel.’”