Raleigh, NC (LifeNews.com) -- Backers of the Choose Life license plate in North Carolina have unveiled a new design for the car tags that features a more colorful version of the children's drawing found on the nearly 25 states with the specialty plates on the road. However, if the state legislature doesn't approve the plates this year, they say they may file a lawsuit to allow them.

The Carolina Care Pregnancy Care Fellowship, a collection of pro-life groups, unveiled the new license plate design at a press conference today.

Rep. Mitch Gillespie, the sponsor of the Choose Life license plate bill, HB 168, was on hand for the event and said he hoped the legislature would support the bill, which it has not done in previous legislative sessions.

With the passage of a bill in the Virginia legislative assembly that became law this year allowing Choose Life license plates, backers of the North Carolina plate are hopeful theirs will eventually meet with success.

However, Democratic leaders in the legislature don't appear open to allowing a debate and vote on the bill and House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman told the Asheville Citizen Times, "We try to stay away from political messages on license plates."

With that in mind, Eva Ritchey, a Hendersonville resident who is the head of the North Carolina Pro-Life Democrats groups, one of the members of the Choose Life plate coalition, told LifeNews.com a lawsuit may be filed if the legislature continues to prohibit the sale of the plates.

"What option are we being left?" she said.

Proceeds from the sales of the specialty plates go towards pregnancy centers that provide practice help and support for pregnant women who may be considering an abortion.

There are currently 80 pregnancy centers across the Tar Heel State that served more than 46,000 women, men and families last year.

"North Carolina's pregnancy centers offer information, emotional support, and practical help to thousands of women who face the challenges of unexpected pregnancies," Bobbie Meyer, the director of the Pregnancy Resource Center of Charlotte, told LifeNews.com. "The Choose Life license plate will help us assist more women with our services and encourage health, stable families in our communities."

Brevard graphic artist Deborah Vernon Scott designed the proposed North Carolina plate, which depicts mountains and waves separated by two children's faces on a yellow background. The phrase "Choose Life" is emblazoned in red at top.

In February, pro-life advocates held a large rally in support of the plates.

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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