Pittsburgh City Council virtually assured yesterday that the city will follow Philadelphia in requiring gun owners to tell police when their firearms are lost or stolen.

Council members voted 6-1 for an ordinance that would give gun owners 24 hours to call police after they notice that a firearm is missing. It would subject them to a $500 fine if they don't report such a loss, and a $1,000 fine plus possible prison time for a second such failure.

Passed amidst a spate of city shootings, the proposal is meant to deter "straw purchasers" from buying guns and selling them to criminals who can't pass the necessary background checks. Now, when such guns are recovered by police and the original buyer is confronted, they may say the weapon was lost or stolen.

The lone "no" vote, Councilman Ricky Burgess, argued that the ordinance violates state law, which generally bars municipalities from writing gun rules.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he hasn't decided whether to sign the measure. His other options are to let it become law without his signature, or veto it, though it passed by a veto-proof margin.

Philadelphia's ordinance is the subject of court challenges. Advocates are pushing for similar rules in multiple cities statewide.