Raleigh, NC (LifeNews.com) -- Local pro-life advocates turned out by the dozen to support legislative efforts to create a Choose Life license plate in North Carolina. Other states offer the opportunity to purchase car tags that will benefit pregnancy centers and adoption program and more than 100 people at the rally said they want one, too.

The rally took place in front of the Legislative Building and Republican Rep. Mitch Gillespie, a lead sponsor of the bill, told those in attendance that North Carolina should become one of the more than 20 states with the plates.

Last year, the bill to create the pro-life license plates received the support of the House Transportation Committee but stalled on the House floor.

Gillespie said Democrats, who control the state House, should allow a vote on the legislation.

North Carolina Right to Life and North Carolina Pro-Life Democrats co-hosted the rally.

"The time as come for the General Assembly to join other states in the southeast and allow North Carolinians the opportunity to have the Choose Life special registration plate," the groups told LifeNews.com before the event.

"The North Carolina courts have ruled that 'the encouragement of childbirth is a legitimate governmental objective," the groups added. "The Choose Life Special Registration Plate fits perfectly with that objective. So, we must ask the legislature, why won't you pass the Choose Life plate?"

Gillespie's bill, R-85, should be "accorded the respect of a floor vote by the full legislature," the pro-life groups added.

Funds raised from the Choose Life plates will be help pregnancy care centers in North Carolina that offer pregnant women free services and help them find abortion alternatives.

Nationally, the voluntary purchase and renewal of more than 456,000 Choose Life plates has raised almost $10 million for pregnancy care centers. The plate shows support for positive, life affirming options for pregnant women.

ACTION: The pro-life groups are asking state residents to contact House Speaker Joe Hackney at Joe.Hackney@ncleg.net and House Finance Committee Chair, Rep. Paul Luebke, at Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net and ask them to allow a vote on the Choose Life plate bill.

Related web sites:
North Carolina Right to Life - http://www.ncrtl.org
North Carolina legislature - http://www.ncleg.net

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