3 K8 E! [5 w% J) ~, @June 7, 2007, 11:58PM 1 H3 b: a5 Z" K8 I( w' r4 EAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow # m2 D0 s0 p8 R) z+ ]) O* I% Y2 N5 q( x( e) c2 E; d
MONTGOMERY, ALA. — Simmering tensions in the Alabama Senate boiled over Thursday when a Republican lawmaker punched a Democratic colleague in the head before they were pulled apart.: _) u* U) O7 ?( d3 {6 r& m
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Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." 2 ^# T4 C0 ^; a' H x. M! j& L % e# D3 v1 s7 R1 w8 j; b"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch.9 j# v8 N) t1 d/ g0 Y) P: X! {
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Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. 8 M# g6 [5 z9 U7 }8 L" R* y1 I4 ?/ `9 L: J
Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.