A judge has ruled that anti-abortion license plates will not be allowed in North Carolina until there is an option for people with an opposing view.
U.S. District Court Judge James C. Fox ruled that the government cannot allow for speech on just one side of an issue. The General Assembly passed a bill last year allowing license plates that said "Choose Life" to be sold. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a law suit last year. Chris Brook is Legal Director of the ACLU in North Carolina.
Chris Brook: "We would have no problem whatsoever with a scheme that allowed for both sides of the abortion debate to be able to obtain license plates and basically have their voice heard."
Six plates with opposing messages, like "respect women" and "trust choice" were voted down by legislators. Representative Mitch Gillespie of Western North Carolina, who introduced legislation for the anti-abortion license plates, did not return calls seeking comment.