PDA

View Full Version : North Carolina Sued Over License Plates


ClydeR
09-09-2011, 11:17 AM
A federal lawsuit filed Thursday seeks to void a new law establishing a "Choose Life" license plate in North Carolina, saying it violates the First Amendment.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of four "pro-choice automobile owners" who contend that the license plate constitutes state-sponsored discrimination. The organization is seeking an injunction to block the plate's issuance as it nears the required 300 applications.

"The state is opening up a forum to one side of the argument," said Katherine Lewis Parker, the state's ACLU legal director. "When they do that, they are constitutionally obligated to open to the other side."

The law offers no alternative to express the opposite viewpoint.

More... (http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/09/1471960/lawsuit-challenges-choose-life.html)

People have the right to say whatever they want. So do states. What is written on license plates is something the state is saying, not something drivers are saying. Making North Carolina say something it doesn't want to say would be unconstitutional. Liberals just don't respect the constitution.


But state Rep. Mitch Gillespie, the bill's sponsor, is unfazed. He points to rulings in other states that endorse "Choose Life" plates.

"I don't think they will be successful," he said, noting that conservative legal groups were lining up to help defend the law.

The Marion Republican said the lawsuit is just an attempt by "an evil liberal organization to try to appease its liberal base."
AnticorRifling
09-09-2011, 11:39 AM
Doesn't the phrase "Choose Life" Kind of work if you're Pro Life (the second word in the phrase and it's telling you to pick that one) or Pro Choice (the first word in the phrase and it's saying hey make a choice)?

People are dumb.
CrystalTears
09-09-2011, 11:41 AM
There are at least 11 states that have Choose Life plates. Normally the plate type is requested by the people and it has to go through legislation to get it approved. The money made from the plates goes towards pregnancy centers. The "Respect Choice" plate was rejected.
Latrinsorm
09-09-2011, 12:08 PM
Doesn't the phrase "Choose Life" Kind of work if you're Pro Life (the second word in the phrase and it's telling you to pick that one) or Pro Choice (the first word in the phrase and it's saying hey make a choice)?

People are dumb.Is that like how people who are pro-screws and people who are pro-America can get behind "screw America"?
Atlanteax
09-09-2011, 12:50 PM
There are at least 11 states that have Choose Life plates. Normally the plate type is requested by the people and it has to go through legislation to get it approved. The money made from the plates goes towards pregnancy centers. The "Respect Choice" plate was rejected.

Ugh @ "Respect Choice" being rejected.

Especially considering that it would be less likely to be perceived as specifically supporting the ability to have an abortion as "Pro Choice" plates would ... since it is just asking, if taken literally, for "Choice" to just be respected as a viewpoint.
AnticorRifling
09-09-2011, 12:54 PM
Is that like how people who are pro-screws and people who are pro-America can get behind "screw America"?

Wouldn't it be "Screws America" in your example? You're Skwisgaar Skwigelf, I knew it!

Also what topic would have two sides of the argument being one for hardware the other for a country? I like where this is going.
Rinualdo
09-09-2011, 12:57 PM
Also what topic would have two sides of the argument being one for hardware the other for a country? I like where this is going.

Clearly one that involve bacon. Somehow.
Drew
09-09-2011, 12:57 PM
My understanding is that Choose Life is a pro-adoption group not an anti-abortion group. At least that's what I heard when Florida got these plates like.... 10 years ago.
Drew
09-09-2011, 12:59 PM
Just looked it up, Choose Life America is the beneficiary of the plates and they use the money to support adoptions and adoption centers.
Drew
09-09-2011, 01:01 PM
For reference here are the states that have them and those that don't.

http://www.choose-life.org/images/Map_states_color.jpg
CrystalTears
09-09-2011, 01:13 PM
Just looked it up, Choose Life America is the beneficiary of the plates and they use the money to support adoptions and adoption centers.
I believe the controversy in NC is because some of the money is being used for pregnancy centers.


The House voted 70-44 to authorize dozens of new specialty plates, including the Choose Life plate, that require an extra $25 fee to purchase — with $15 going to pregnancy centers that provide women with abortion alternatives for each plate sold in the state.

House Bill 854 also recently passed which requires a 24-hour waiting period and the informed consent of a pregnant woman before an abortion may be performed.
Latrinsorm
09-09-2011, 01:34 PM
Wouldn't it be "Screws America" in your example? You're Skwisgaar Skwigelf, I knew it!

Also what topic would have two sides of the argument being one for hardware the other for a country? I like where this is going.I'm going to be honest, I'm disappointed I/you didn't go with the rated-PG-13 interpretation.

or

I'ms goings to be honest, I'ms disappointed Is/you didn'ts go with the rateds-PG-13s interpretation.

or

To be budget neutral Obamacare is implementing a screws tax of 300%. Also Communism.
Tgo01
09-09-2011, 01:37 PM
House Bill 854 also recently passed which requires a 24-hour waiting period and the informed consent of a pregnant woman before an abortion may be performed.

Shouldn't there be a waiting period anyways? Do some states not have such a waiting period?
CrystalTears
09-09-2011, 01:43 PM
Shouldn't there be a waiting period anyways? Do some states not have such a waiting period?
Yes it depends on the state's abortion laws and some states are adding the waiting period. Minnesota passed to have a 72-hour waiting period. South Dakota also passed to have a 72-hour waiting period and undergo counseling before having an abortion, but that one has an injunction.

I don't see a problem with being counseled to ensure you're making a sound, rather than snap, decision about abortion.
ClydeR
09-09-2011, 02:03 PM
My understanding is that Choose Life is a pro-adoption group not an anti-abortion group.

You two are the biggest hoot!
Kithus
09-09-2011, 02:35 PM
Shouldn't there be a waiting period anyways? Do some states not have such a waiting period?

I assume this excludes any situation in which there is immediate threat to the mother?
Tgo01
09-09-2011, 02:49 PM
I assume this excludes any situation in which there is immediate threat to the mother?

Yes.
ClydeR
09-09-2011, 03:37 PM
I assume this excludes any situation in which there is immediate threat to the mother?

That there would be a big problem. It can't be something as nonspecific as a "threat." That would leave too much wiggle room. The North Carolina law that CT referred to authorizes skipping the waiting period if it is necessary to avert the mother's death or if the waiting period "will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, not including psychological or emotional conditions." The law requires the doctor to document the risk thoroughly so that he can be prosecuted later if it doesn't add up.