* x, r, [# i3 h8 M' SJune 7, 2007, 11:58PM $ N3 j8 r& y {. _* h2 EAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow( l8 A# B; u$ K1 x1 k# }2 L
$ ]% ]9 a2 Y n/ SMONTGOMERY, 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. ' t4 x: O4 Y3 M! }& x6 ] 1 }' o- N1 ~) m+ r8 mRepublican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." : c" Y! C+ _7 {$ a: f8 }5 [: J4 A) |% c: ?
"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch.. ^) L' P; ^" n0 ?" L5 i6 b
6 }. U/ J) E% B* I3 b% Y) ZBarron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats.2 `4 U( b5 _3 Z3 \
# f2 w% a2 O5 v$ b- m4 FSen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.
