Police cars’ ‘In God We Trust’ decals draw complaints

Police cars’ ‘In God We Trust’ decals draw complaints

In response to the recent targeting of police officers both in the street and on the media, some police departments have put “In God We Trust” on patrols cars. Not surprisingly, radical atheist fundamentalists have an issue with it…

Police cars' 'In God We Trust' decals draw complaints

In fact, of the dozens of complaints about the decals lodged in recent months by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, about half were sent to law enforcement agencies in Missouri. Departments in Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia and elsewhere also received complaints from the foundation, which says it will consider suing but acknowledges it can be difficult finding a plaintiff willing to be publicly identified as challenging the use of the phrase.

In its letter to Nichols, the foundation said, “Statements about a god have no place on government-owned cars. Public officials should not use their government position and government property to promote their religious views.”

The letter cites the Pew Research Center when it goes on to say that 23 percent of Americans identify as “nonreligious,” up 8 percentage points from 2007.

Rebecca Markert, a senior staff attorney for the foundation, said the First Amendment prohibits government from establishing or even preferring a religion. The growing number of law enforcement agencies adding the phrase to vehicles amounts to a violation of separation of church and state, she said.

While the communities have been supportive, the foundation – which isn’t a part of the communities and is headquartered 5-6 states away – said it’s important to protect minority viewpoints. And I quote: “The Bill of Rights was passed to protect minority rights against the tyranny of the majority.”

Yeah. no.

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