Support Adoption in Illinois
Illinois Choose Life, Inc. has been organized to support
the adoption of children in Illinois. Funds generated from Choose Life specialty
plates will support adoption. Status Update: The Effort Continues!
DISAPPOINTING NEWS! The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a Texas case on June 18, 2015 that specialty license plates are a form of government speech so the First Amendment does not prohibit states from rejecting some designs. The Thomas More Society had filed an amicus brief that urged the Supreme Court to rule that specialty license plates, including “Choose Life” license plates, constitute private speech in a designated public forum, and are thus protected by the First Amendment as free speech. This ruling will allow the Illinois legislature to continue to block Choose Life specialty license plates. More ...
An earlier appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied in October 2009, allowing
the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against Choose Life plates to stand, as handed
down in November 2008. This result prevents
reinstatement of Judge David Coar's decision in favor of Choose Life license plates in
Illinois.
Update
from the President of Illinois Choose Life
(March 2015)
Update
from Legal Counsel (June 2015)
Is Illinois
Behind Other States? Status in Other States
Map
Recent News from Illinois and Other States (updated July 2017)
From Newtown to a Renewed Nation (Dr. Elizabeth Rex)
How will adoption be supported?
Funds to both encourage the adoption option and provide support for birth mothers who
are considering adoption can be raised through the sale of Choose Life specialty license
plates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Responses to Common Arguments
Fran Shambro, organizer of the petition drive,
watches as parishioners at St. John Cantius
in Chicago sign the petition to establish Choose Life license plates in Illinois
Successful petition drives
to obtain signatures supporting the establishment of Choose Life license plates in
Illinois were effective to demonstrate strong support for these plates in our state.
Adoption is a positive choice
The Donaldson Institute and the Dave Thomas Foundation performed a survey showing that
Americans have a very favorable impression of adoption. 40% of Americans have
considered adoption and 60% have been personally touched by adoption. The number of people seeking to adopt children makes every
child a wanted child. Many people involved with adoption are supporting Choose
Life plates.
Is Illinois Behind Other
States?
As of December 2016, 33 states have approved
Choose Life specialty license plates. Choose Life plates are on the road in 29 of
these states, with Florida having the most. The concept of Choose Life
license plates originated in Florida, where over 11.042 million dollars have already been
raised to support adoption.
Choose Life plates are currently being sold in 29 states, with 4 states accepting pre-sale orders. The
plates recently became available in North Carolina. Initial approval has occurred in Wisconsin, Utah, Maine and Nebraska so
pre-orders for Choose Life plates can be placed in those states, and the plates will
become available after the minimum number of orders are received. Wisconsin became the 33rd state to approve Choose Life license plates, with Maine the 32nd, Iowa the 31st state, and Alaska
the 30th state. North Carolina was the 29th state to approve the plate, but was delayed in availability until a recent Supreme Court ruling reversed a Federal Appeals Court decision that had blocked distribution of the plates there.The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals unfavorable ruling has
denied the availability of Choose Life plates in Illinois, now that the Supreme Court has
declined to review the case. This ruling stands in stark contrast to the
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Arizona, as well as the Eighth Circuit Court
ruling in Missouri.
Efforts to gain approval for Choose Life plates are ongoing in 12 more states, leaving only 5 states with no current effort being made on behalf
of Choose Life plates.
Check out this web site to learn how you can help make Choose Life plates a reality in
Illinois. Why should Illinois be left behind in this visible effort to support
adoption? Unfortunately, without a future Supreme Court ruling that would override
the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals unfavorable ruling, or an action of the Illinois
Legislature, Choose Life plates cannot currently be authorized in Illinois, but....
The effort in Illinois will continue until Choose Life plates are on the road!
Illinois Choose Life, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3)
organization and donations are tax deductible. 100% of funds received are used to
promote the Choose Life License Plate in Illinois.
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