Shooting survivor holds "Congress on Your Corner"

U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, D-Ariz., center, meets with constituents Jim Tucker, left, and his wife Doris who are the first in line to greet him during a "Congress On Your Corner" event at a grocery store on the corner of North Craycroft and East Grant Roads in Tucson, Ariz. on June 23, 2012. / AP Photo/Arizona Daily Star, A.E. Araiza

Updated 9:19 PM ET

(AP) TUCSON, Ariz. - A newly sworn-in congressman who was injured in a mass shooting last year along with then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords held his first "Congress on Your Corner" event with southern Arizona constituents on Saturday.

Giffords held 21 of the informal meet-and-greet events during her more than four years in office, including one on the day of the shooting — Jan. 8, 2011. The rampage left six dead and 13 wounded, including Giffords and her then-district director, Ron Barber.

Giffords relinquished the seat in January to concentrate on her recovery from a gunshot wound to her head. Barber, a Democrat, won a special election to replace her earlier this month. He was sworn in Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

About 300 people showed up at Saturday's event outside a Tucson grocery store as temperatures topped 100 degrees, Barber spokesman Mark Kimble said. Visitors ranged from other survivors of the mass shooting and well-wishers to people who had concerns about their federal student loans or veteran's benefits, he said.

The event had been scheduled to last an hour and a half.

"But there were so many people, we went three hours," Kimble said.

Barber was shot twice, once in the face and once in the leg in the shooting, which took place in front of another Tucson grocery store. He was asked by Giffords earlier this year to pursue the seat, and she appeared in Tucson during the campaign's final days to help him.

Barber defeated Republican Jesse Kelly, who narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010.

[newz4me]

The people we elect are scared half to death to stand out on a corner/in a store and get asked questions face to face from us. Except for Rep. Ron Barber all other congress people hire people, which we pay for, to answer our questions via phone/email/form letters. They're isolated from the United States of Americans.

[notparicular]

We also need term limit for Congress. Perpetuity breeds corruption. Congress will serve the people as a public service only with term limit. What limit? Perhaps, two terms for Senate an four for the House.

[marychgo]

Good for you, Ron; great way to begin your Congressional service! And kudos to your constituents, too!

[nearl451]

This is the kind of event that all Representatives and Senators should be holding regularly.

Glad to see they are back.