Virginia Congressman: "I Will Not Be Putting My Hand On The Quran"

According to an article by the Las Vegas Sun, "Virginia Republican Rep. Virgil Goode triggered angry responses from a civil rights group and some colleagues with a letter this month to constituents concerned about a decision by Rep.-elect Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim elected to Congress, to use the Quran when he is sworn in."

The congressman added that "he will not retract the letter warning that unless immigration is tightened, "many more Muslims will be elected" and use the Quran to take the oath of office".

He went even further to say that "he wants to limit legal immigration and do away with "diversity visas," which he said let in people "not from European countries" and "some terrorist states."

In response, newly elected Representative Keith Ellison said "that Goode and others had nothing to fear about Muslims." He added that "They are our nurses, doctors, husbands, wives, kids, who just want to live and prosper in the American way,".

In an interview with CNN, "Ellison said when asked what he would say to Goode if they met. "All of us are steadfastly opposed to the same people he's opposed to, which is terrorists, and so there's nothing for him to be afraid of." Asked whether he thought Goode was a bigot, Ellison said, "I don't know the fellow, and I'd rather just say that he has a lot to learn about Islam. ... I don't want to start any name-calling."