Hoosiers react to burning the Quran

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indiana Congressman Andre Carson called the Florida minister who threatened to burn the Quran misguided and irresponsible.

24-Hour-News-8 has since learned the minister has apparently bowed to public pressure and decided not to burn the Quran this weekend as originally planned. Before that decision, we spoke with the Congressman and numerous Hoosiers about this issue.

"He is putting our troops who are already in harm's way, he is raising the levels of hostility. I was in Afghanistan a few weeks ago and our troops are doing a phenomenal job of protecting our country, but he is absolutely putting them in an untenable position by doing this!" said Congressman Carson.

"I think it's wrong to burn anyone's religious faith manual whether it be the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Torah, the Quran, I think that's disrespectful and it does nothing but incite the anger of people!" said P.J. Heath.

24-Hour News 8’s Mike Corbin, also spoke with army mom, PJ Heath, who is worried about her daughter Jillian and son Joseph.

Both are currently serving in Afghanistan. She says the Florida's churches plans could mean trouble.

"Our Constitution doesn't say that you have the freedom of speech even though it may put someone else in danger!" said Heath.

"Personally, I think it's an unwise response!" said Rev. Donald Gifford of the Indiana Assemblies of God Church.

We also caught up with Rev. Donald Gifford of the Indiana Assemblies of God Church.

"I don't think it's the response Christ would give to the Quran to have a public burning of the Quran!" said Gifford.

"It's sad and it's unfortunate, but what's even better is that we know this is a very small group of Christians!" said Sarah Thompson, spokesperson for the Islamic society of North America in Plainfield.

Sarah Thompson of the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield says her group is trying to get Hoosiers to community work on the day the Florida church burns the Quran. Still, she believes extremists will respond.

"I do think that there will be a group of people who probably will be burning American flags unfortunately! But that's the same group of radical people who are burning American flags now for kind of anything that we do so I don't think it will incite a new group of people to behave badly, I just think it will just give the people who already are another reason!" Thompson said.