3 |7 t8 q% y9 `2 C& K4 c- p$ r8 E' @$ u, k! _5 S7 E7 O T June 7, 2007, 11:58PM ) i5 B: k$ z( M% w5 e$ S% L* qAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow + t+ J1 w% j9 k% X# o; s& L7 `/ b/ @4 i, N. _
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. ' T% P' ^+ q% w" Y" h! \* v ( a* A) J9 A2 A1 u& T1 T) LRepublican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)."7 W5 g( [0 Y* u, g& E
" `, Y/ L( V* o$ o5 V! e
"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch.7 P/ z. z G. _% N
u7 `; d3 ~* B3 ]- dBarron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats.- k5 A, p5 r+ C* H* N2 K
! F/ V5 z+ E/ A7 ASen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.