The Nevada DMV is dealing with a controversy over a proposal for custom license plates. A faith-based charity organization has passed the initial approval stage for plates with an anti-abortion message.
The group, Women's Resource Medical Centers, is based in southern Nevada. They provide free pregnancy counseling and support to pregnant women in an effort to prevent abortions.
Twenty-five dollars from every plate sold would go to support their charity.
But opponents say the plate is a clear violation of Nevada's specialty license plate requirements which state that the plate cannot "promote any specific religion, faith, or antireligious belief."
I spoke with the CEO of the Women's Resource Centers on the phone to see how she's responding to the opposition.
"It's not that we are making a statement or anything like that. We are just doing what we do, and helping women and children in a charitable way,” says Ester Golleher.
She says she'd be surprised if the plates didn't get final approval since they are a charity organization. But they are facing opposition from Planned Parenthood which submitted public comment against the proposal.
We took the question to the public today to see how Northern Nevadans feel about it.
"Well, I'd be pleased because I am pro-life, so I wouldn't find anything objectionable about it,” says Nadene Cheney of Reno.
"I probably wouldn't like it too much. Religious beliefs shouldn't be on state things,” says Rani Frazier of Reno.
We also reached out to the Nevada DMV for comment - and while they didn't want to go on camera, they said they are consulting their attorneys about the matter.
