'Choose Life' License Plates Ruled Unconstitutional

It's 'a great victory' says the ACLU

A federal judge in North Carolina has banned the state from pumping out "Choose Life" license plates, arguing that the North Carolina government's refusal to allow alternative pro-choice plates makes the act unconstitutional.

Salon informs us of the controversy, which was highlighted last year when the ACLU filed a lawsuit claiming that North Carolina's barring of custom plates with phrases like "Respect Choice," coupled with its issuance of "Choose Life" plates, was a violation of the 1st Amendment.

In his ruling, US District Judge James C. Fox said the double standard at work constituted "viewpoint discrimination," and that it was unconstitutional not to allow for pro-choice license plates if their pro-life counterparts are to be allowed to proliferate.

"This is a great victory for the free speech rights of all North Carolinians," said the ACLU's Chris Brook. "The government cannot create an avenue of expression for one side of a contentious political issue while denying an equal opportunity to citizens with the opposite view."

Via Salon.

Should "choose life" license plates be permitted?

[DARSB]

The Establishment Clause rules! The Founders did so much right.

[Capt_Morgan02]

This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with religion.

[bsking]

@Capt_Morgan02 in fact it has nothing at all to do with religion or the Establishment Clause.

the reason they rule that where North Carolina because they don't have an optional plate that has the opposite position.

there are many other state to have choose life plates that are constitutional because they offer an opposite message plate also.. Virginia is 1

[Capt_Morgan02]

@bsking I find it interesting (and by interesting I mean ridiculous and almost childish) that the libs automatically see this as a religion only argument. Atheists will argue that you can be moral and not religious, which I agree with. Why then must a moral argument against abortion be thrown out as a Christian message?

[bsking]

@Capt_Morgan02 that's a really good point I didn't think of that

[DARSB]

Anti-choice arguments invariably assume but rarely specify an assumption that" fertilization" is synonymous with "ensoulment." This is a faith-based proposition with no basis in biology, particularly in the case of the Person hood folks, like Rep Paul Ryan.

If a person believes a blastocyte is a complete human being that's their privilege. But it is an extremely poor basis for making law. For me, I prefer science.

[NormalFlora]

Get a bumper sticker if you need to, but keep ALL state identification methods non-political.

[SavageMazx]

Absolutely agree.

[dlw]

I agree.

[MongoAPillager]

so to make it fair you have to have an"Choose Death"plate?

[Denizen_Kate]

That's crass, Mongo. "Respect Choice" is a far cry from "Choose Death." Sheesh.

[MongoAPillager]

@Denizen_Kate I would have to counter with "respect life"

[Denizen_Kate]

@MongoAPillager - Thank you. That's much better than "Choose Death."

[MongoAPillager]

@Denizen_Kate sorry dear,but I don,t the murder of a helpless baby should be sugar coated or PC,d

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

I know, it sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?

[Nemesis3X]

Actually agree with the libs, progressives, etc.... If the baby killers can't have a plate, then pro-lifers shouldn't be able to either. Fair is fair!

[marine1]

Whats good for the goose SHOULD be good for the gander.

[Fishbone345]

Its never that easy is it?

[kathyparsell]

In North Carolina, at least, they seem to recognize that if you give voice to one then you must give voice to the other. It is the same as when the people cry "put religion back in the schools", which religion; Protestant, Catholic, Wicca, Voodoo or Islam?

[Denizen_Kate]

I don't think political messages belong on state license plates, period, but if you allow one, you must allow them all. I say don't have any, and let people buy their own bumper stickers or decals.

[Ashstop]

I don't think life and death is a polical matter

[Denizen_Kate]

@Ashstop - Pro-choice vs anti-choice is most definitely a political matter. Whether we like it or not, it is a factor in every national election and has been since Roe v Wade.

[Ashstop]

@Denizen_Kate
I'm not dening it is discussed politically, but it runs so much deeper than that!! It is a spiritual conviction that it is life that is being killed, no election will change that, it's considered life in animals, try killing a pregnant deer with no license, you get 2 tickets!! It has nothing to do with women's rights, it has to do with human rights,
That's what I meant, my views can't be changed with a vote , yours can't be either I'm sure, we will all know in the end

[Denizen_Kate]

@Ashstop - understood. We can cordially agree to disagree, yes? I appreciate your courteous and heartfelt reply.

[FFX_VA]

Virginia DMV Revokes World's Greatest License Plate

http://m.jalopnik.com/5724684/virginia-dmv-re...

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

I don't see what in the world would be wrong with having a license plate that celebrates life. Aren't each and everyone of us a realization of that celebration of life? I'm pro-life, that means I'm pro-you. Nothing wrong with that. I say the judge got this one wrong.

[Denizen_Kate]

It isn't about the "Choose Life" message being wrong, the issue is that the same officials decided that the "Respect Choice" message could not be used, which is unfair. It may be difficult to understand, but people who disagree with your views are not necessarily wrong. This wasn't about the message, it was about fairness.

[Fishbone345]

When you go to Canada, what is the process for getting plates? Do they give them to illegals?

[rkinsawjoe]

You're pro me? Having known myself for 48 years,I'd urge caution on taking too hard a stance on that one. I have deep reservations about anyone that might be swayed either way on the issue based on someone's vanity plates. But to allow one side a platform while denying it to the other would necessarily give a false impression of public opinion and in this instance tie the state to an "approved" position contrary to federal law. In the spirit of limited government, the state has no business celebrating life.

[Phreakwars]

It would be the same as the state producing plates that said "choose god". The establishment clause wins this round, don't care what side of the abortion issue your on, you'd have to agree that it is unconstitutional.

[Capt_Morgan02]

This has NOTHING to do with a religion.

[Libertyiskey]

I believe the only thing unconstitutional about it is the whole other side of the argument not being represented I don't think it has anything to do with religion.

[Phreakwars]

I never said it had anything to do with religion. What I am saying is using religion on plates is unconstitutional because of the 1-A's stance of not recognizing religion. The abortion issue is the same. A government body should not take an opinionated stance for or against the issue in any state issued documents/plates.

[PNWest]

The only way they should be able to put this on a license plate would be if the background image is a coat-hanger.

[PoliticalSpice]

Sorry, I could only vote you up once!

[Libertyiskey]

Both should be. Freedom of speech works both ways even if you disagree with what they say. I think the lawsuit should have been to get both legal instead of making the other illegal as well, but maybe I read it wrong.

[1adam2]

i have seen no argument in the, article that pro-choice even tried to have their logo on state plates. and besides states, are a republic not a democracy. so the opinions of the few, should not be used as coercion or intimidation of the many.

[PoliticalSpice]

Read the article again.

[1adam2]

@PoliticalSpice i need specifics with facts, not opiniated inuendo's of assumptions.

[PoliticalSpice]

@1adam2 fact: in a court pf law there must be a case and vontroversy, in other words someone had to ask permission for the other license plate and be told they were not available...

[1adam2]

@PoliticalSpice sorry but the suit, was brought by the aclu. and did not mention any specific case, docket number or name. the aclu does not, necessarily represent clients. i do not jump to conclusions, where the aclu is concerned. no names, no dates, applications filed, no docket number, no facts, is not sufficient evidence for me. show to me there was sufficient pro-choice need first. the aclu has been known drum up, controversies for their propaganda publicity. and what is, the supply and deman ratio here? the aclu does not represent me or anyone else, any more than the federal government does. get real, their all in their own show biz.

[PoliticalSpice]

@1adam2 there are certian basic rules the courts follow, regardless of your feelings about the aclu. The courts will not allow a case to go forward unles there is a case and controversy. In this situation the state would have had to explain if there was an opportunity to have the other licence plate...

[joyshusband]

Where were all y'all pro-choicers yesterday?

[ConserveUSA]

Adam Lanza was a Pro-Choicer.

[twinertia]

Factions in the state couldn't stand any other ideas, so their ignorance was rewarded. It's all fine by me.

[Souljah]

HaHaHa 22% voted yes? it's okay to accomodate only 1 point of view? twisted

[MBernard]

That's because they know nothing about the constitution or equality or fairness.

[Politicskid]

This is silly. I personally think that cars shouldn't carry advertisements endorsed by a company or organization on license plates.

[Fishbone345]

Personally I think the greatest plate right now belongs to Mississippi and their little Light House of hope. A light house so strong, it told several hurricanes off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biloxi_Light

[stepped_in_it]

Ya know, what I don't fully understand about the pro-lifers is do you really believe that if abortion was made illegal tomorrow, would abortion stop? NO! It wasn't legal before Roe v Wade....was it? And did abortions happen before Roe v Wade? YES. And you want to talk about protecting life? What about the women who (if abortion was illegal) would still seek an abortion....in some back alley "medical office"? Didn't think about them, did you? Pro-life would save the children, but, kill the woman! Happy?

[kyrebel]

No woman in her right mind would want an abortion anyway. Unless she was raped or incest, but they make the day after pill for that. So you ask, innocent baby or unfit mother wanting to kill her baby. Humm let me think, I choose the baby.

[stepped_in_it]

@kyrebel Understand! But, just how do you choose "the baby" ONLY when the "unfit mother's" life is also very connected to that baby's life? "So you ask, innocent baby or unfit mother wanting to kill her baby. Humm let me think, I choose the baby."
Besides, isn't use of the day after pill also "killing"?

[jamie91]

@kyrebel I choose responsible woman who makes responsible Choices for her life and her body, not brining another unwanted child into an already over populated planet.

[stepped_in_it]

@jamie91 I also choose responsible MEN who stand up, take that responsibility and don't force just the woman to handle the situation. I know, you now blame the woman for "picking" that man. HMMM, still does not allow him to run and hide. Ok, then we stop abortions, but, then we also chemically castrate irresponsible men for helping put the woman in that situation! Would be a lot of eunuchs running around this country (which would be no skin off my teeth).

[kyrebel]

@stepped_in_it ....there are people out there looking to adopt and would make good parents. I understand how the day after pill could be considered killing. It is better than waiting till there is a babies body with organ development and life. Life meaning brain function and heartbeat. Even doctor frankenstein seen movement and said IT'S ALIVE..IT'S ALIVE

[CCC78]

well, then, stop all sports , all pet care/humane shelter , all congress/ house/judicial , fire, nursing, police, teachers....just stick with plain old numbers and letters.

[kyrebel]

Ok let the aclu have there plate. Show a baby beside an axe or knife.