( y3 I9 g6 n4 v! |! C7 p- t2 O+ [) I2 b June 7, 2007, 11:58PM 8 U" b' Z4 w- r9 L0 K9 QAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow # V, G3 [9 {+ c& ? f0 a6 m+ d7 V % A+ e! V4 A8 K3 Y5 A7 P: nMONTGOMERY, 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. % l# |: t- T6 @2 @6 H* Q4 Y6 C( K5 g, c, Z+ t
Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." , n7 J: h0 t6 t' r 3 X5 ?+ ~8 T. n/ k$ ~" z. ^"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch.; u7 H3 b% e8 E5 G& B+ ^! L4 \
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Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. ]: {9 ]8 B9 D+ y* E) J1 \) s1 U/ }" g! O, o/ n# I5 o
Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.