Watchdog asks sheriffs to remove 'In God We Trust' decals

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A group dedicated to upholding the separation of church and state is asking sheriffs in Missouri to remove "In God We Trust" decals from their squad vehicles.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation argues the motto is "exclusionary" of atheistic and agnostic citizens.

Co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor of the Wisconsin-based organization has suggested sheriffs could replace it with a different decal: "In Reason We Trust."

Greene County, Missouri, Sheriff Jim Arnott, who has defended his decision to put the message on the county's squad cars last year, told the Springfield News-Leader he doesn't plan to remove or replace the decals anytime soon.

"Here's how I feel about it. It's our nation's motto. And that's the bottom line. And it's on all of our currency. It's probably in 75 percent of the courthouses in the United States. It's on our county seal," he said.

Gaylor said her association also disagrees with the use of "In God We Trust" as a national motto.

"It doesn't belong in a secular republic like the United States of America, which is predicated on an entirely godless, secular constitution," she said.

The Missouri Sheriff's Association voted unanimously last month to place the decal on squad vehicles throughout the state, at the discretion of the individual departments.

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department has placed the decal on some of its vehicles.

Gaylor said her association could decide to file a lawsuit to force sheriff's departments to remove the decals.