Federal Appeals Court Says “No” to Pro-Life License Plates
On Friday, a federal appeals court concluded that Illinois officials are within their rights by refusing to issue a pro-life license plate favored by pro-life activists throughout the country.
”It has authorized neither a pro-life plate nor a pro-choice plate,” the court said. ”It has done so on the reasonable rationale that messages on specialty license plates give the appearance of having the government’s endorsement, and Illinois does not wish to be perceived as endorsing any position on abortion.” This ruling reversed a ruling from a lower court earlier last year ordering the state to start producing plates if there was enough interest.
This is a ruling motivated by a biased position by the officials of the state. As far as I’m concerned, you should able to place on your license plate what ever you want if it meets the following test:
1. Is it legal?
2. Is it offensive?
3. Is the message protected by free speech?
4. Does the message contain profanity?
If all the answers above are yes, no, yes and no respectively, then that message should be allowed on license plates. Also. consider that over 60 specialty license plates are issued in the State of Pennsylvania covering things such as environmentalism and pet lovers. So, what’s wrong with Pro-Life? This decision is wrong. Anybody have an opinion?
