Amid all of the debate among members of Congress on how to curb gun violence, one Maryland representative has come out in support of what he calls common sense measures. 8th District Congressman Chris Van Hollen says he favors improved  school security, limits on rounds in a magazine to ten, and universal background checks for all gun purchasers.

"We have this whole area of sales that don't have any background checks right now, a big loophole," he says. "My view is that if we believe that background checks are a good thing for 60% of gun sales, we should make sure we do for 100% of gun sales."

Anyone buying firearms from a licensed gun dealer must undergo a background checks. That's not required for transactions at gun shows.

There has been a lot of discussion about guns since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December. Vice President Joe Biden has been meeting with both sides in the gun debate, and has been charged by President Obama with coming up with solutions to gun violence. During a news conference on Monday, President Obama told reporters he supports stronger background checks, a meaningful ban on assault weapons, and limits on high capacity magazines. The National Rifle Association and other gun supporters are opposed.

Congressman Van Hollen says he favors limits on high capacity magazines. "There's a very good case to be made that we don't need magazines that fire off more ten rounds," he says. "And there are many shooting incidents like that of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, where the fact that the shooter had to re-load actually prevented a greater number of killings."

On Jan. 8th, 2011, Giffords was shot in the head while meeting with constituents at a supermarket parking lot in Tuscon, Arizona. 18 people were wounded that day, and out of that, six died.  Bystanders tackled the alleged gunman, Jared Loughner, as he was reloading.

But Congressman Van Hollen is  not limiting  his comments to just guns. He says the country needs to examine its mental health system.

"All along the lines of providing sensible rules with respect to sale of firearms, but also making sure we preserve people's 2nd-Amendment rights," he says.