Nothing betrays the empty sloganeering of “choose life” more aptly than the murder of Dr. George Tiller. For years now, activists in North Carolina have pushed for a “Choose Life” license plate. Since it must be approved by the North Carolina Legislature, activists tout the plate as some sort of benign fundraising tool for “crisis pregnancy centers.” Of course, implicit in their argument is that “life” is on their side. Nothing could be further from the truth.

image of proposed "choose life" license plate

First off, the “Choose Life” license plate bill specifically says that funds raised through the sale of these plates may not be distributed to any organization that “provides, promotes, counsels or refers for abortion.” This puts the state in the business of fundraising for organizations that deny women health care information.

“Choose Life” license plates wouldn’t just deny funds to organizations that provide abortions—they would prohibit organizations from referring a woman for an abortion even if she asked explicitly for this help.

“Crisis pregnancy center” promoters like to say they provide women with unbiased information. Clearly, if they plan on taking proceeds from “Choose Life” license plates, this simply isn’t true.

Just a quick primer on life: women’s lives matter. Every single minute of every single day a woman dies from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth–536,000 women every year. Of course, the majority of these women live in lesser developed countries where abortion is mostly illegal and prenatal care virtually unheard of.

The quality of reproductive life enjoyed in the U.S. hinges on access to safe, legal and affordable reproductive health care options including abortion, prenatal care and family planning services.

So let’s go back to the fallacy of “Choose Life” license plates. Whose life are they choosing? The mock up plate features children rendered in crayon. North Carolinians who want to support children may already purchase a “Kids First” license plate that raises funds for programs that directly serve children.

If the purpose of “Choose Life” license plate is simply to raise money for “crisis pregnancy centers” then would-be license holders should become donors. That’s what supporters of most causes do. Assuming the “crisis pregnancy centers” are legitimate non-profit organizations, the donations are even tax deductible.

In the end, of course, we have to go back to Dr. Tiller, a compassionate provider of health care for desperate women and families. Dr. Tiller was gunned down by a zealot who would no doubt proudly display a “Choose Life” license plate. He believed his cause was about protecting “life” because of the rhetoric spouted by seemingly benign groups who claim moral superiority. Dr. Tiller’s murderer clearly did not recognize women’s lives as significant. That’s something Dr. Tiller never forgot.

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