Gun-toting evangelicals say burning Koran is God’s work FEATURE 09/10/2010

Gun-toting evangelicals say burning Koran is God’s work

FEATURE

09/10/2010
GAINESVILLE — Wayne and Stephanie Sapp, pistols on their hips, are adamant this Saturday’s Koran-burning ceremony at their evangelical church in Florida will go ahead as planned.

“We believe strongly this is something God has called us to do,” said Wayne, associate pastor at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, where a large police presence is powerless to stop the event.

The Sapps have heard warnings from, among others, the US military commander in Afghanistan Gen. David Petraeus, that their actions could have global repercussions and endanger US military personnel serving abroad.

But they say the ceremony, organized to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by Islamic extremists from Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network, is a necessary warning to radical Muslims.

“We feel lives are in danger whether we do it or we don’t do it,” Wayne told AFP. “If we do not stand up now to try to expose this for what this is, in 10 years, will we even have the opportunity?”

The protestant clergyman acknowledged he and the event organizer, church pastor Terry Jones, have received death threats.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100910com6.html