By Christian Morrow June 11, 2009

Wilkinsburg has joined the growing number of municipalities to require gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms or face stiff fines and criminal charges.

The June 3 unanimous 6-0 vote sent the measure to Mayor John Thompson, who said he would sign it.

“Homicides are rising in the Pittsburgh area, and illegal handguns are fueling the problem,” said Council Vice President Jason Cohn. “This ordinance is a reasonable step to help police identify illegal traffickers and keep handguns out of the hands of criminals. It’s our job to protect the citizens of Wilkinsburg, and I believe this law helps us do that.”

Under the ordinance, failure to report missing handguns within 24 hours could result in a fine of up to $500, court costs and mandatory gun safety training. A second offense could mean fines up to $1,000 per violation plus court costs or up to 30 days imprisonment, for additional offenses. Anyone who fails to pay the fines will face up to 30 days in jail.

Councilwoman Vanessa McCarthy-Johnson said the measure would protect Wilkinsburg families.

“This ordinance is critical for Wilkinsburg. Residents need to understand that once their handguns leave their homes, something tragic can happen to someone—a loved one, a friend, a neighbor,” she said. “I don’t believe this ordinance violates our Second Amendment, I believe it enhances the safety of our neighborhoods.”…

According to a 2008 report by the Legal Community Against Violence, a gun legislation advocacy group, between 1993 and 2002, almost 1.7 million guns were reported stolen.

During hearings prior to Pittsburgh passing its reporting ordinance, police Det. Jill Rustin said the bureau had removed 1,976 illegal guns from city streets since the beginning of 2007. Of those, only 231 had been reported stolen.