Edd's Gatherin' Place

What’s your opinion? South Carolina lost an opinion before the U.S. Supreme Court over offering pro-life licensing plates and not offering plates for the opposing abortion rights supporters. There are other legal issues involving divided lower courts but the primary decision is, “If you allow plates for one group them you must allow plates for those of the opposite opinion.” South Carolina only issues license plates, upon request and a payment of $70 dollars with the money going to local crisis pregnancy programs. From The Item, Pro-life license plates dealt setback:"

The Supreme Court declined Monday to consider whether states may offer license plates with anti-abortion messages, leaving lower courts divided over whether the programs in a dozen states unconstitutionally restrict dissenting views.

Without comment, justices let stand a lower court ruling that said South Carolina's license plates, which bear the slogan "Choose Life," violate the First Amendment because abortion rights supporters weren't given a similar forum to express their beliefs.

The high court's move means that South Carolina will either have to eliminate the specialty plates or begin offering plates with abortion-rights views. That ruling is at odds, however, with a decision by the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which essentially allowed the plates because it said abortion rights advocates didn't have standing to bring a lawsuit in the case.

Abortion rights advocates cheered the Supreme Court's move Monday.

So again, “What is your opinion should South Carolina do away with the “Choose Life” plates or should South Carolina offer plates to those of the pro-choice advocates?”