1 [' Y; v8 i. z$ B) O. eJune 7, 2007, 11:58PM9 G) ~- Q5 b2 w" o* ` Alabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow8 P0 m% }2 T$ l4 w
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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.6 s3 _1 O" K8 p; g
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Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." 5 d! p. F/ N8 {0 |$ W, r- }6 c/ _5 m F+ d; L1 U
"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch./ t# O% o) D+ x" @' L6 h
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Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats.) I& g) ?6 l. |" _$ U2 I4 S
& Q7 y* d5 v M' G f' ^Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.