4 E3 `: w# p, Y6 u* x5 D% S7 J- h June 7, 2007, 11:58PM 9 A. v7 K! J$ V8 h+ UAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow- P0 a. g+ |! X
3 K1 T' c# I0 o2 Q" d
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.$ z1 M) W3 u# V: Z3 Z- Z/ z6 H
$ i m% S* i0 h% A8 ?2 h9 URepublican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)."0 V9 k; C; V+ J; z/ {/ r
/ L" |/ i3 q& l, V0 ~+ \4 m"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch. . J: z* W1 Q/ Y! t1 V0 @; g! V% ` " s: Y) t# o5 X: ]Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. ( g6 Z) s* f" F- ]- t! n3 F' m* { k2 x {
Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.