Sound Off: Non-Believers Get Lobbyists

A national group that seeks a more secular government has launched a lobbying chapter in South Carolina.

Secular Coalition for South Carolina officially launched Sunday in Charleston at their annual convention. They plan to lobby elected officials to "defend the rights of secular Americans and provide a voice for those who are in the non-religious minority," according to a news release.

ARCHIVE: Read more about the new group.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION: In a state that has such strong ties to religion, do non-believers need lobbyists to protect their rights? Or should they simply stay quiet, since their numbers are so small?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Non-believers amount to roughly 14 percent of South Carolina's population, according to a 2009 poll. Roughly 30 percent of Palmetto State residents said religion was not a very important part of their lives.

South Carolina is tied with Alabama as the second-most religious state in the U.S., according to a Pew Research Center poll. Only Mississippi residents express stronger religious views.