Choose Life License Plate Director Says Pro-Life Plates Had Incredible Year

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Choose Life License Plate Director Says Pro-Life Plates Had Incredible Year
by Steven Ertel

tLifeNews.com Editor

December 16, 2008
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Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Millions of motorists on the highways of America see Choose Life license plates every day as they drive to work or play. The plates, which now adorn the vehicles of 22 states, have reminded Americans of the pro-life perspective but have also raised about $9.6 million for adoption programs and pregnancy centers.
Russ Amerling tells LifeNews.com that 2008 was an incredible year that not only saw more states adopt the Choose Life plates but the beginning of efforts to get the plates approved in several others.


"This was an incredible year for the Choose Life license plate in America," he said. "A donor gave us $5000 to conduct a 17 state, two month tour during which we helped start Choose Life license plate efforts in nine more states and conducted follow up visits in the rest."
In Arizona, state officials were ordered to move ahead with Choose Life plates, hearings were held on plates in Missouri, and South Carolina approved its plates.Amerling says his home state of Florida, which saw the adoption of the first Choose Life plate, has seen plate sales higher than other plates related to sports teams or colleges.
"In Florida alone, over $6.5 million has been raised for the cause of life and adoption for pregnancy care centers, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies," he explained.
Amerling relates the story of a sidewalk counselor who heard from a woman who was on her way to have an abortion but who saw so many Choose Life plates on cars during her drive that she changed her mind.
"When she arrived at the abortion clinic, she told Judy, the counselor out front, 'You are a sign and seal that what I was about to do was wrong,'" a pregnancy center worker told Amerling.
The woman drove away from the abortion business planning to keep her baby and convinced her future had been changed by the plates.
Amerling says the story is just one of many he's heard during the years he has stumped for the plates across the country.
He says next year will be "busier than ever" as most of the nine states he visited will see legislation in their state legislatures.
"We will continue assisting these states, including testifying as 'expert witnesses' for the Choose Life license plate in committee hearings as the bills work their way through state legislatures," Amerling told LifeNews.com.


Amerling's group has also purchased 50 web site domains -- one for each state -- so pro-life advocates can better keep up with the efforts to get the plates in the own state or purchase the plates if they have already been approved.
Look at Texas at www.txchoose-life.org ,Virginia at www.vachoose-life.org , or Georgia at www.gachoose-life.org to get an idea of what these sites look like.
Ultimately, Amerling says he and his wife will continue their efforts until every state has a plate that can support the pro-life cause and helping women and children.
"Jill and I have been full time volunteers to Choose Life for twelve years and will continue until every state has the Choose Life license plate," he said.
Related web sites:Choose Life, Inc - http://www.choose-life.org/