The City of Gainesville has denied Dove World Outreach Center’s application for a burn permit to set fire to copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, but the church plans to burn the holy books anyway.

Gene Prince, the interim chief of Gainesville Fire Rescue, said Wednesday that under the city’s fire prevention ordinance, an open burning of books is not allowed.

But permit or no permit, the church has indicated it will go ahead with its planned protest of Islam.

In an e-mail newsletter sent out Wednesday, the church announced: “City of Gainesville denies burn permit -- BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS.”

Prince said his department notified the church, which has fewer than 100 members, of the decision in a letter that was mailed Tuesday. He said the church could be fined if it went ahead and held the burning.

Deputy Chief Tim Hayes, who serves as the department’s fire marshal, and an investigator went to the church’s 20-acre property on Northwest 37th Street earlier this month to determine what the burn would entail.

Under the fire ordinances the City Commission adopted last year, bonfires aren’t allowed without a permit, under Section 10-63, “Open burning and outdoor burning are prohibited in the City of Gainesville unless otherwise specifically permitted as provided by this article.“

The section goes on to prohibit burning newspaper, corrugated cardboard, container board or office paper, which are akin to books, Prince said.

Hayes said the denial had nothing to do with the church’s intent.

The Gainesville Police Department has also been paying attention.

Officials there have met with other law enforcement agencies to figure out how it will handle the planned burning -- and the potential backlash -- if it still happens.

Ah, the First Amendment, Build a Mosque near "Ground Zero" in NYC, but don't burn the Koran in Gainesville .... Neither is a good idea, just because you have the right, nor is the cities backdoor move to prevent it ...

What happened to love thy neighbor part of their religions ?