Why should Federal courts have to waste time on idiocy like this? The North Carolina General Assembly passed a law green-lighting a license plate that had the message “Choose Life” on it, just as there are license plates you can get in my state, Virginia, that endorse everything from birds to college athletic teams. The assembly refused to allow a plate, however, with the adverse message, “Support Choice,” or “I Like Reproductive Freedom” or “Yay Abortion!” or something similar.
Now, all those Republicans who voted for the “Choose Life” plate are supposedly in favor of a government that doesn’t dictate what its citizens say or believe, that principle being enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Why, then, can’t they see that providing a license plate that supports one side of a contentious issue to drivers, while refusing to allow drivers of a different mind to sport a contrary message, is an abuse of power, or, as the judge that banned the “Choose Life” plate referred to it, “viewpoint discrimination” ?The state can’t give special privileges, like the privilege of annoying other drivers by preaching to them with their license plates, to citizens whose politics or beliefs state officials happen to like. That’s a First Amendment violation, an abuse of personal autonomy, and wrong.
I would say “obviously,'” but clearly that wasn’t true in this case.
I think there should be a North Carolina plate that reads, “Choose Competent Legislators.” Of course, “Choose Stupid Legislators” would have to be available too.
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Facts and Graphics: My Fox 8
Ethics Alarms 
I don’t have time to search it out, but I was looking for the vote tally to see if the HR 854 had bipartisan support. The court decision in North Carolina also makes me curious as to whether 20-plus other states who make similar license plates available will now also have to cease allowing their plates with any kind of “Choose Life” theme. http://www.ncchoose-life.org/
Just another battle in the war…
I’m betting a lot of those states do have pro-choice plates. But what war? The First Amendment isn’t partisan.
The states should get completely out of the number plate message business, with the registration number only on the plate. Then car owners should be able to buy number plate surrounds from whichever companies they want to display whatever message they want.
It’s all about the revenue.
Hmmm…something about this is bringing up faint memories of Chick-fil-A…
Supporting life is good…supporting rights of all Americans is good but I’m feeling a double bind in this somewhere…
To make specialty license plates, you must have a large enough pool of recipients who are willing to pay the extra dime for the making of them. It’s still a mass market. No doubt there are a number of people in North Carolina who support abortion to at least some degree. However, how many of them are willing to display something like “I Choose Abortion” on their license plates wherever they go… and pay for the privilege? The question might also be asked if, during the long period of Democrat rule in that state, the option of a pro-life license plate was ever extended? I don’t know, frankly. When you consider, though, that the Democrats helped turn NC into one of the biggest sources of child sexual exploitation films in the country through state funded rebates, you have to be suspicious.
Governments should leave the ‘contoversial message’ market to that greater power which is the true and final arbiter of tact & taste; Bumper Stickers!
As expected, a federal court ruled it unconstitutional. I guess they’ll be coming after Texas next!
And Florida.
HERE I AM, “THE LUCKIEST MAN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.” Yes, Jack, that’s me, EEYOURE, sbita (screwed by information technology as) “lmotfaceote.” God, I hate how Gravatar doesn’t work!