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Choose Life Plate Considered Following an explanation from the bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. Mitch Gillespie (R–McDowell), the committee opened up the floor for discussion from committee members. The committee discussion mainly revolved around the inclusion of the “Choose Life” plate. Rep. Diane Parfitt (D–Cumberland) quickly put forth an amendment to add a pro-abortion specialty license plate to the list, reading “Trust Women, Respect Choice.” Rep. Gillespie, primary sponsor of HB 289 and a longtime sponsor of legislation to add the “Choose Life” specialty plate, opposed the amendment, but various members expressed support for authorizing a plate that represented the opposite side of the abortion debate, claiming that it was simply a matter of fairness. Rep. Becky Carney (D–Mecklenburg) voiced her support of the amendment, saying that both sides deserved to be represented because of the right to free speech under the First Amendment. Rep. Ray Rapp (D–Madison) urged members to take both plates out of the bill altogether, arguing that the state should not allow license plates to become political “billboards.” Rep. Parfitt’s amendment to add the pro-abortion specialty license plate failed by a vote of 11-14. The committee then adjourned, promising to hear further debate on HB 289 at its next meeting. If the committee keeps to its usual meeting schedule of Tuesdays at 12 noon, then the next meeting would be May 17. “It is interesting that abortion supporters in North Carolina suddenly want their own license plate, when, to the best of our knowledge, they have never put forth that idea before,” commented Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. Brooks continued, “The Choose Life plate, on the other hand, has been waiting to be considered by the General Assembly for almost a decade.” Related resources: Copyright © 2012. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.
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