4 }& r4 t0 q4 C- O _2 e; _+ Z+ ?. U) q( g' M: g4 J June 7, 2007, 11:58PM ( ]2 T/ Z8 F7 [! E. _2 S" RAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow & O' r# S0 C: y5 @8 y3 \. V! ^ , K, D' ?, D) r7 v, W2 ]' ?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. G( a) @9 Y- J5 E
& q9 M+ W& [- M, ]9 Y# DRepublican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)."5 a* ]* I" D7 |6 d! Q L9 Y7 R9 E% G& H8 O
" M) q7 B, @0 N# v- g"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch. % M0 D# G- F2 }1 f {6 r& x, S( }$ B' H+ U# z
Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. : ]" f% v6 C ~/ A5 B+ U% R. P$ Q% @) _* X/ \, l
Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.