A group of residents delivered 33 petitions with 734 signatures to the city on Thursday, asking that the issue be placed on the ballot.

Their efforts are meant to block Shooter's Supply Inc., a 16-year-old Loveland business, from opening a range in a vacant church and warehouse on Loveland-Madeira Road.

Loveland council passed an amendment last month that allowed guns to be fired inside a target range, despite resident complaints that the range was too close to homes and schools.

Filing the petitions stopped the new law from taking effect.

Linda Cox, clerk of council, said she has 15 business days to verify signatures and forward the petitions to boards of elections in Hamilton, Clermont and Warren counties. Those boards will then confirm their validity. At least 410 valid signatures are needed.

Dan Lovett, a co-owner of Shooter's Supply, wasn't sure Thursday whether he will wait out the election, which could take place as early as February, or start looking elsewhere.

"We are going to have a range somewhere, whether it's in Loveland or not," he said.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com