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Texas Sheriff’s Office Puts ‘In God We Trust’ On Vehicles

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Casey Harper Contributor
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A Texas sheriff’s office added “In God We Trust” decals to their police cars this week, and the local community loves it.

The Burnet County Sheriff’s Office started putting the decals on police vehicles Monday, allowing deputies the choice of whether to add the religious and patriotic phrase.

“In the words of our sheriff, you know he says ‘in God we trust’ is already stamped in print on your currency,” Patrol Capt. Ricky Bindseil told KXAN. “It’s something that’s dear to his heart and a lot of officers here in our department.”

This isn’t the first time law enforcement has put the phrase on their vehicles, but it often comes with criticism from atheist groups. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has sent letters to police departments across the country complaining about the practice, but because “In God We Trust” is the national motto, a legal argument against it is difficult.

There has been no federal ruling on the issue specifically, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said last year the practice was permissible.

“A court is likely to conclude that a law enforcement department’s display of the national motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ on its patrol vehicles is permissible under the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution,” Paxton said.

The decision to use the decals received a flood of positive comments on Facebook.

“It’s something that with a Christian community that we have here and a lot of Christian beliefs inside our department, including our Sheriff who is a minister himself, it was just something that was very deep to our hearts, it’s in God we trust,” Bindseil told KXAN.

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