'Choose Life' Plates Ruled Unconstitutional

[The1calledTKE]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge ruled Friday that the state's "Choose Life" license plate is unconstitutional based on the reasoning in similar cases in other states, but he declined to rule on whether Tennessee's entire specialty plate program is flawed.

U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell (search) wrote that the state cannot promote just one viewpoint in the abortion debate.

"The result in this case would be the same if the statute authorized a 'Pro-Choice' license plate instead of the 'Choose Life' license plate," Campbell wrote.

The American Civil Liberties Union (search) and Planned Parenthood challenged the plate in November, arguing that the state was not providing an equal opportunity for opposing viewpoints.

The state and Tennessee New Life Resources (search), an anti-abortion group closely tied to Tennessee Right to Life, had argued that those who wanted a license plate in favor of abortion rights hadn't tried hard enough to get a specialty plate passed by the General Assembly
.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,133534,00.html

Good maybe that will force them to offer a pro choice plate as well.

[Honeykiss1974]

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/scripts.../20031112.html

[aurora_borealis]

This "Choose Life" slogan reminds me of the shirts WHAM! wore in the 80's. Maybe if there was a picture of George Michael on there it would be more popular?

But yeah, I think both sides should be represented if they want to do that. Personally I don't think it belongs on a state license plate but as a bumper sticker item.

[SSS1365]

I'm a pro-lifer, but I wouldn't even put a pro-life bumper sticker on my car. I don't know why anyone would bother with a license plate. Yeah I think if they did it, there would need to be a pro-choice one too... but personally I don't care to see it :-P so I don't think there should be one for either.

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

*nods*
The state should stay away from heated issues. Stick to more neutral plate options: veteran, teacher, etc

[astroAPhi]

I wonder what will happen with Florida's plates then.

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by aurora_borealis
This "Choose Life" slogan reminds me of the shirts WHAM! wore in the 80's. Maybe if there was a picture of George Michael on there it would be more popular?

Even I, a devoted pro-choicer, would TOTALLY get a "CHOOSE LIFE" tag if Wham! were on it.

I love me some Wham!

[33girl]

I know they're a way for the state to make $$$, but I am really tired of specialty plates. Bring back the old days of "here is your base color, here is your number/letter color, that's it."

There was an issue in the 1970's with NH putting 'Live Free Or Die" on their license plates, and people who didn't want to die even if they weren't free covering them up. http://clca.cqpress.com/rights/wooley.htm

[honeychile]

I'm with 33girl. If you've ever witnessed a hit and run accident, you know that you have seconds to try to memorize a plate. Trying to figure out which state it's from anymore could be pretty hard to do. ("uh... I think there was a bird on it..." )

[Kevin]

Originally posted by astroAPhi
I wonder what will happen with Florida's plates then.

They would probably go the way of the dodo based on this.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge ruled Friday that the state's "Choose Life" license plate is unconstitutional based on the reasoning in similar cases in other states, but he declined to rule on whether Tennessee's entire specialty plate program is flawed.

U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell (search) wrote that the state cannot promote just one viewpoint in the abortion debate.

"The result in this case would be the same if the statute authorized a 'Pro-Choice' license plate instead of the 'Choose Life' license plate," Campbell wrote.

The American Civil Liberties Union (search) and Planned Parenthood challenged the plate in November, arguing that the state was not providing an equal opportunity for opposing viewpoints.

The state and Tennessee New Life Resources (search), an anti-abortion group closely tied to Tennessee Right to Life, had argued that those who wanted a license plate in favor of abortion rights hadn't tried hard enough to get a specialty plate passed by the General Assembly
.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,133534,00.html

Good maybe that will force them to offer a pro choice plate as well.

Why in the hell would the state offer either??

[33girl]

Originally posted by KSig RC
Why in the hell would the state offer either??

$$$$$$$$!

[Rudey]

Do people not worry about their cars being attacked and stuff? Because I'd be worried about getting my car keyed if I had a plate like that. Forget the fact that I'd look like a freak.

-Rudey
--Actually, no, let's not forget that these plates make ya look like a freak!

[preciousjeni]

Of course, as it's been said, the pro-choicers didn't put enough money up to get a license plate of their own. So, why should the state offer it? I didn't see anywhere that pro-choice plates were banned; just that there wasn't enough interest.

Regardless, this is BAAAAD way for state's to be making money because it certainly is involving them in issues that should NOT be for the government.

[kddani]

Originally posted by Rudey
Do people not worry about their cars being attacked and stuff? Because I'd be worried about getting my car keyed if I had a plate like that. Forget the fact that I'd look like a freak.

This is my thought as well. Just like the people who put a billion bumper stickers with all kinda of anti-abortion propaganda and all that crap. But then again, the people that do this sort of thing are driving some old junker. You don't see BMW or Lexus's with that kind of stuff on them