- k. n! R+ M7 k2 x , Y7 ]/ [5 h+ q9 Q. _. I1 I# ]8 z% zJune 7, 2007, 11:58PM0 n, ] B! g J7 b& u! d Alabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow3 {: z, A- D4 @5 r9 g) `+ D4 f
# N1 ^; Y+ @% A3 K# U4 G0 _) D. 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. + Q1 r7 |4 m4 _6 S2 e5 V- |; y# Q: U: g/ ]; q
Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)."8 K9 i7 Y5 x8 p% I* N' p
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"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch.! J# ^- r( E! X! j/ P# x8 `
3 Q; e& M! p$ ?# W# w2 hBarron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. 1 O8 s7 A3 c5 s/ u' Q& Z / `7 |' F4 ~1 c, S6 hSen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.