Choosing Life in D.C. - Pro-Life License Plate Gets Approval

While Christians may not agree on denominational doctrine all of the time, members of the faith frequently do agree on the right to life. Now, residents in the nation's capital can show their support on their cars with "Choose Life" license plates. On Wednesday, the plate became available for purchase by The District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles.

The nation's capital is now one of 30 areas that offer the plate to residents.

The U.S. States:

• Alabama - available
• Alaska - available
• Arizona - available
• Arkansas - available
• California - not available
• Colorado - not available but a group is working on it
• Connecticut - available
• Delaware - available
• District of Columbia - available
• Florida - available
• Georgia - available
• Hawaii - available
• Idaho - not available but a group is working on it
• Illinois - not available but a group is working on it
• Indiana - available
• Iowa - available
• Kansas - not available
• Kentucky - available
• Louisiana - available
• Maine - not available but a group is working on it
• Maryland - available
• Massachusetts - available
• Michigan - not available but a group is working on it
• Minnesota - not available but a group is working on it
• Mississippi - available
• Missouri - available
• Montana - available
• Nebraska - not available but a group is working on it
• Nevada - not available but a group is working on it
• New Hampshire - not available but a group is working on it
• New Jersey - available
• New Mexico - not available but a group is working on it
• New York - not available (lawsuit ongoing)
• North Carolina - not available (lawsuit ongoing)
• North Dakota - available
• Ohio - available
• Oklahoma - available
• Oregon - not available but a group is working on it
• Pennsylvania - available
• Rhode Island - not available but a group is working on it
• South Carolina - available
• South Dakota - available
• Tennessee - available
• Texas - available
• Utah - available
• Vermont - not available but a group is working on it
• Virginia - available
• Washington - not available but a group is working on it
• West Virginia - not available but a group is working on it
• Wisconsin - not available but a group is working on it
• Wyoming - not available

Choose Life, Inc. was formed by Russ and Jill Amerling in Florida in 1996. Their plan was to use license plate sales to help fund efforts for pre-natal care for women considering adoption services and to help pro-life pregnancy centers and other life affirming agencies get services to women who needed them. In the beginning, things were difficult, but through persistence, legislators in Florida were convinced to support their effort. In 1997, the Florida legislature presented then-governor Lawton Chiles with the Choose Life bill. Despite national attention and controversy, Governor Chiles vetoed the Choose Life plate. Other states, however, started paying attention. By the summer of 1998, Choose Life, Inc. had been contacted and asked to help promote similar efforts outside of Florida.

By November 2013, 29 states and the District of Columbia have raised nearly $19 million by offering the popular plate to residents who support the right to life. Pro-life advocates can learn more about the group's efforts, donate towards the cause and purchase merchandise supporting pro-life efforts on their official website.

Tags : Pro-Life