In today’s Charlotte Observer, the head of NC Pro-Life Democrats, Eva Ritchey, writes that the state should allow N.C. residents to buy “Choose Life” license plates, with proceeds going to “pregnancy care centers.” Ritchey argues that since we can buy license plates honoring sea turtles, NASCAR and so forth, anti-abortion supporters should be able to display support for their cause. The main sticking point is that the “pregnancy care centers” are seen by many as not mere do-gooders but, in effect, active participants in a rancorous national political debate. A good compromise would be to allow the plates, but with money from their sale directed back into general state funds. If the main issue is pro-lifers’ “equal rights” to their own license plate, however, they have a point, especially since the state has already established the precedent of granting license plates to a group which advocates political views, the uber-reactionary Sons of Confederate Veterans. The other problem is that as soon as the state grants a plate for the pro-life folks, it would soon be swamped by other politically affiliated groups demanding their own license plates. I can see the plates now: “Meat Is Murder!’ plates for radical vegetarians; “White Is Right!” for the KKK; “Drill Baby Drill!” for oil company fans, and so on. Is it worth having these fights over something as insignificant as license plates?
This article appears in Apr 21-28, 2009.
