Choose Life License Plates in NC?

North Carolina Pro-Life Groups Work Overtime for Choose Life License Plate

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 17, 2008

Raleigh, NC (LifeNews.com) -- Two North Carolina pro-life groups are working overtime to try to get the state legislature to approve a Choose Life license plate. The state is one of just two in the southeastern U.S. that doesn't allow motorists to express their view that adoption is better than abortion.

The Choose Life plates are allowed on vehicles in 17 states and five more states have active campaigns to allow motorists to purchase them, including in North Carolina.

But with South Carolina's new procedures opening the door to more plates, North Carolina could soon stand alone in its opposition to a yellow plate with the faces of two children and two words that affirm a pro-life view.

Though a plate hasn't been created, the Tar Heel State is home to over 100 specialized license plates promoting everything from Save the Sea Turtle to NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.

The Choose Life tag has been tied up in the Transportation Committee for five years, but, if it ever gets approved by the state legislature, fifteen dollars of every plate purchased would provide much needed funds for pregnancy support centers.

North Carolina Right to Life is leading the effort to get legislators to approve this important bill.

"By not allowing the citizens of North Carolina the opportunity to have a Choose Life plate, the leadership of the General Assembly demonstrates their support for abortion," NCRTL president Barbara Holt told LifeNews.com.

Holt says legislators have caved in to pressure from pro-abortion groups who don't want to see the plate generate funds for pregnancy centers that help women avoid abortions.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Pro-Life Democrats says it supports the plate effort as well.

Eva Ritchey, the president of the group, told LifeNews.com that her party could earn praise from pro-life advocates by ending the impasse.

“The Democratic Party leadership that controls the state legislature is out of touch with the common sense life affirming beliefs of the majority of North Carolinians," Ritchey explained.

"We appeal to our party to allow North Carolinians the right to choose the Choose Life plate," she said.

Ultimately, the Choose Life plates across the nation have raised over $8.7 million and over 400,000 plates have been sold or renewed in the 17 state that currently have the plate available.

ACTION: You can help the Choose Life plate effort by sending an email to Speaker of the North Carolina House Joe Hackney at Joeh@ncleg.net. Encourage him to allow a vote on HB 932. You can also contact him at (919) 733-3451 or write him at NC House of Representatives, 16 W. Jones Street, Room 2304 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096.

Related web sites:
North Carolina Right to Life - http://www.ncrtl.org
North Carolina Pro-Life Democrats - http://northcarolina.democratsforlife.org