* v+ M) l6 D* i3 Q: l' \/ h; eJune 7, 2007, 11:58PM . s" i2 i9 Y* G" v( Z H( N x6 KAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow, j8 z- }( h0 P4 i: r3 _- Y
% h6 f" G* S3 fMONTGOMERY, 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. , ^" o5 C: w" z* k; i. S2 G2 ?# X " E5 B( p( S1 [# a' b" t- G, ERepublican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." 6 c4 T/ W U" g! ^# e& Q. x6 ` 6 j7 X3 N# R- h$ b"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch. $ l) a/ j# c1 S, f. d5 o7 u# \- V( J. k, B
Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats.+ ^! f& s8 {2 ^/ @; R
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Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.