Tennessee: As of April 1, 2016 the following U.S. states currently offer an "In God We Trust" license plate as a specialty plate for an additional normal vehicle registration processing which vary from state to state: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

According to a new bill filed by West Tennessee Republican Rep. Bill Sanderson, there is a call for all of the state’s license plates to be redesigned and replaced as registration is renewed or new vehicles are purchased. "We thought it would be a move in the right direction," Sanderson said about the legislation. He said the phrase would only be added to standard state license plates, not specialty plates that are allowed by law. If House Bill 26 passed, the law would take effect beginning July 1, 2017.

"In God We Trust" is the official motto of the United States. It was adopted as the nation's motto in 1956 as an alternative or replacement to the unofficial motto of E pluribus unum, which was adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created and adopted in 1782. Advocates of separation of church and state have questioned the legality of this motto, asserting that it is a violation of the United States Constitution, prohibiting the government from passing any law respecting the establishment of religion.

This attempt, together with some similar moves, is showing the effort of the state to push religion on everybody. Nearly a year ago, Tennessee legislators voted to make the Bible the official state book but it was vetoed by Governor Bill Haslam. It should be optional, if someone wants to put “In God We Trust” on his vehicle, perhaps others don’t have such needs.

Photo Credits: The Tennessean