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Federal court says Tennessee can sell pro-life message license plates
AP ^ | 3/17/6

Posted on 03/17/2006 12:53:50 PM PST by SmithL

A federal appeals court today ruled Tennessee can sell license plates that promote "choose life," even though it doesn't offer one with an abortion rights message. A three-judge panel on the Sixth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled in the appeal of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. The group had sued over the specialty license plate approved by the Legislature in 2003 on First Amendment grounds and won a ruling against the tag from a lower court. Advertisement

In a 2-to-1 ruling this morning, the court concluded the one-sidedness on a contentious political issue may be ill-advised, but ruled the First Amendment doesn't prohibit it.

Extra fees motorists pay for the plates would go to New Life Resources -- an anti-abortion group.

The plates had stirred considerable debate. Governor Bredesen let the measure become law but declined to sign it. He also urged lawmakers to develop a new approach to deciding which causes would benefit from the sale of specialty plates.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: licenseplate; prolife

1 posted on 03/17/2006 12:53:52 PM PST by SmithL
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To: SmithL

Isn't that a "pro-choice" message?


2 posted on 03/17/2006 12:54:52 PM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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3 posted on 03/17/2006 12:55:39 PM PST by SmithL (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
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To: SmithL

Hmmmm - that looks like a white baby. I can see a problem here.


4 posted on 03/17/2006 12:58:06 PM PST by mlc9852
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: SmithL

I don't like it. Think of Kalifornia doing a "Pro Choice" plate with no pro-life alternative if you think what Tennessee did was right. If that doesn't kick it for you, think of a "Homosexual Rights" plate.


6 posted on 03/17/2006 1:12:07 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: antiRepublicrat
I don't like it........ Think of Kalifornia doing a "Pro Choice" plate with no pro-life alternative.....

California can be counted on to be offensive, however we do NOT HAVE A RIGHT to not being offended......and this is [depending on your point of view] as offensive as burning a FLAG or putting a crucifix in a bottle of urine.........Freedom of Speech is everyone's gift from GOD.

7 posted on 03/17/2006 1:20:09 PM PST by PISANO (We will not tire......We will not falter.......We will NOT FAIL!!! .........GW Bush [Oct 2001])
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To: SmithL

Why not. Let the liberals have a "Choose Death" license plate too, with the proceeds split between CAIR and Planned Parenthood.


8 posted on 03/17/2006 1:34:18 PM PST by dinasour (Pajamahadeen and member of the Head SnowFlake Committee)
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To: antiRepublicrat
I don't plan on being in Kalifornia so who gives a rats a** what they put on their plates. I'm surprised the ACLU hasn't made a law suit against what ever their using now.
9 posted on 03/17/2006 1:49:24 PM PST by buck61 (luv6060)
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To: dinasour
Aren't some of the abortion slaughter houses federally funded?
10 posted on 03/17/2006 1:55:04 PM PST by buck61 (luv6060)
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To: buck61
Aren't some of the abortion slaughter houses federally funded?

They are, if for no other reason than abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood are allowed to pretend that they are charities.

11 posted on 03/17/2006 2:03:35 PM PST by dinasour (Pajamahadeen and member of the Head SnowFlake Committee)
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To: SmithL

Sure is nice of the Feds to let a sovereign state issue license plates that the libs don't like.


12 posted on 03/17/2006 2:09:39 PM PST by dljordan
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To: antiRepublicrat

There is nothing to dislike here. The pro-abortion crowd can easily petition the state for their own license tag.


13 posted on 03/17/2006 4:35:38 PM PST by rawhide
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To: rawhide

The pro-lifers have a picture of a cute happy baby on their license plate to demonstrate their position.

I wonder what the pro-choicers would picture on their license plate? Similarly with a "gay rights" plate. This is great, it would be forcing them to show everyone who they really are, and what they really stand for.


14 posted on 03/17/2006 11:28:59 PM PST by BamaGirl (The Framers Rule!)
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To: SmithL

For everyone's info.

The reason there's no pro-choice plate is because they didn't get enough signatures. So they tried to stop the pro-life one from being made because of inequal rights, etc. Thankfully it was thrown out and the plate continued.

Just shows the people support life :)


15 posted on 03/18/2006 5:29:01 PM PST by onja ("The government of England is a limited mockery." (France is a complete mockery.)
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To: SmithL
But...but...if the pro-death crowd says it's about choice, and that the "majority" of people support pro-choice, then why the hissy fit? Pro-lifers are just exercising their "choice," right?

Fricking hypocrites.

16 posted on 03/18/2006 5:39:58 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (None genuine without my signature)
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