Colorado Congressman to Hold Public Meeting for First Time Since Giffords' Shooting

Colorado U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter will hold a public meeting at a Safeway store on Saturday for the first time since Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot at a similar event Jan. 8.

Perlmutter, a Democrat, started his "Government in the Grocery" event after taking office in 2007, holding more than 70 open meetings at supermarkets. He postponed an event earlier this month because of the Giffords' shooting.

A news release by said the congressman and Safeway have consulted with law enforcement to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

As Giffords held a similar meeting at a Tucson Safeway, a lone gunman shot the congresswoman point-blank in the head then fired off many other rounds into the crowd that had come to meet her. U.S. District Judge John Roll, 9-year-old Christina Taylor Greene and four others died. Giffords and a dozen others were wounded.

Jared Loughner, an apparently troubled young man who had met Giffords at a previous supermarket meeting, faces federal homicide charges in the case.

Giffords is rehabilitating at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Tuesday, her chief of staff told the ABC's "Early Show" that the congresswoman isn't fully aware of what happened the day of the shooting, including that Roll, Taylor Greene and others died.

"She certainly knows that there's been a traumatic event here," said Pia Carusone, Giffords' chief of staff. "The details of the severity of the injuries to the others, you know, she doesn't know yet about. But she will in time, when she's, you know, at a higher level of communication. Doctors have said it's not really fair, as you can imagine, to tell something so tragic to someone that might not have the ability to ask the detailed questions that someone will have when they hear this news."

Doctors and friends are marveling at Giffords' recovery, even mentioning her as a candidate for retiring GOP Sen. John Kyl's seat, though it's also unclear how much long-term damage she'll experience.

In Colorado, Perlmutter said it's time to return to the grocery store to meet his constituents.

"Government in the Grocery is about being available to listen to the hardworking people in the 7th CD in a less formal setting to talk about the issues on their mind," he said in a news release. "This kind of access is essential to the fabric of our democracy."

Kris Staaf, Safeway's director of public affairs, said in Perlmutter's news release: "We've recently spent a significant amount of time evaluating our company policy surrounding these programs. Safeway periodically hosts events for community organizations, elected officials, and other groups within our neighborhoods. After careful consideration, we have decided to continue allowing elected officials to meet with their constituents at our stores."