EDITORIAL – “Choose Life” not a specialty plate choice

The Supreme Court declined yesterday to consider whether or not states can offer license… The Supreme Court declined yesterday to consider whether or not states can offer license plates with anti-abortion messages. In doing so, justices let a lower court’s ruling stand that said South Carolina’s license plates bearing the slogan “Choose Life” violate the First Amendment because abortion rights supporters do not have their beliefs expressed in a similar way.

Abortion-rights advocates cheered the Supreme Court’s move. Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of American said, “Free speech does not mean muzzling opposing points of view. America’s pro-choice majority deserves a fair chance to be heard in any venue.”

Of course, any group of Americans deserves a fair chance to be heard. That implies that the “Choose Life” license should not be prohibited.

The $70 cost of the “Choose Life” plates went to local crisis pregnancy programs. Planned Parenthood of South Carolina, who filed the lawsuit, argued that the program amounts to “viewpoint discrimination” by state officials. South Carolina countered that the plates are “government speech” enabling a particular viewpoint without an obligation to include dissenting views. Otherwise, the state would have to allow countering views to license plates such as “God Bless America” — a specialty plate of South Carolina.

If the abortion-rights advocates wanted a chance to express their opinion, they should have organized themselves and applied to the state of South Carolina for their own license plate. There is a separate law allowing nonprofit groups to seek plates bearing their insignia for members. There. Those who want “Choose Life” on their license plates can have it, and others can have a plate with a slogan that suits their interests. Doesn’t “Choosing Choice” have a nice ring to it?

Had there been a move by the abortion-rights activists to get their own specialty plate — which is not currently offered — and that plate had been denied, then there would be just cause to appeal to the courts for the removal of the anti-abortion plates.

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee offer the “Choose Life” plates. Other states are considering issuing them. It sure would have been nice if the Supreme Court justices had ruled on this. Even in deferring and giving no comment, they make a statement. By ignoring the issue now while more states continue to provide the license plate, the court is only letting tensions rise, and the issue could escalate.

A possible worst-case scenario would be a decision to remove all specialty plates and allow only federal plates on all vehicles. Forget about being able to ride around town in style while sporting a license plate that encourages other motorists to save the rainforests, protect endangered species or share the road. Responsible drivers are too busy watching the road anyway. What type of reckless person examines license plates while driving anyway?