State Sen. Charles Bishop, R-Jasper, is getting plenty of negative press across the state and the country after punching fellow Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, in the head on the floor of the state Senate after the two were involved in a heated debate.

Television cameras showed Bishop slugging Barron after an exchange in which Bishop claimed Barron called him a “son of a bitch,” something Barron denies saying and something a few of his fellow democrats who were nearby deny hearing.

Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, in an open letter released to the media earlier this week, is calling for Bishop’s resignation saying “…you are a danger to other senators, senate staff and all who may come in contact with you in and around the Senate.” Sanders

also claims Bishop threatened to “whip him” after Bishop allegedly called him “Big Boy,” something Bishop also denies, claiming it was not him, but Sanders who threatened him.

And while the free-for-all in the Senate was the most exciting thing that happened during the entire legislative session, it was uncalled for, no matter what was said. Our officials represent us on the state and national level and we should demand that they provide representation that is professional and mature, and we don’t think anyone will disagree that what Bishop did to Barron was an immature act.

And while Barron may have come out of the fray with little more than needing his hair combed, it was the people of Alabama that got the black eye.