Residents of a St. Petersburg neighborhood have started an online petition asking for legislative changes that would help keep their neighbor from having a gun range in his backyard.

Joseph Carannante showed Bay News 9 the range at his home.

"There's cinder blocks in this, there's three pallets right here full of sand,” he said, “I’ve put a lot of thought in to this.”

He said it will save him money and time.

"I work 15-16 hour days, it's hard to get out and do things when I'd like to,” he said.

But Carranante's neighbors said he needs to take his hobby somewhere else.

"I’m ex-military, I’m also a gun owner, but this is ..this is crazy," said neighbor Patrick Leary.

Kendra O’Connor lives next door from Carannante. The home-school mom's backyard is a play area for kids.

"This is where their friends want to be and want to play during the week. And so now I have 8-10 feet away, a shooting range," said O’Connor.

Joseph Carannante hasn't fired a shot, yet, but said he will notify neighbors and police before he does.

O’Connor said she’s afraid for her children’s safety.

"The likelihood that he could miss, by an inch or fraction of an inch and then it has nowhere to go but in to somebody's home, into their person, their property, or straight across to the golfers on the golf course,” she said.

“I completely understand where they're coming from. But you know we all take chances in our lives. You could get in your car and never be heard from again. It's just one of those things that our forefathers founded this country on shooting guns and being safe and we're allowed to have them," said Carannante.

St. Pete PD’s public information officer Mike Puetz said they view any shooting in a densely populated area as inappropriate and potentially hazardous. But, it's only until a shot is fired that they can investigate to see if any laws have been broken.

A Florida statute regarding shooting in a residential area doesn't mention building a gun range.  It does state if shots are fired in a reckless or negligent way, charges can be filed.

Senator Jeff Brandes, representing Florida’s 22nd district, weighed in on the law.

"It is clear that if he were to actually pull out a weapon and fire at that tree or at the clandestine range he's put together, that he would be reckless and negligent and he's setting himself up to go to jail," said Brandes.

NRA lobbyist in Florida also made a statement about the issue Monday. 

"Shooting ranges don't belong in dense residential neighborhoods and, in fact, nothing in the law allows them," said Marion Hammer.

The neighbors said they're left feeling on edge, and have started an online petition asking for legislative changes to a law they say is too vague.

Carannante said he's still working on his range, and deciding whether he's going to shoot.