|
Local
residents, lawmakers favor bill to halt junk e-mail
March
2, 2003
By MAYA
HOLLINSHEAD
Index-Journal
staff writer
Several
area legislators and residents agree with a bill that would
crack down on unwanted junk e-mail.
The bill, sponsored by
House Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia, is currently before the
House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee and would create
a database of residents who do not want wish to receive
unsolicited e-mail.
Companies who violate the provision
would face fines up to $25,000.
The bill also applies to
electronic mail that goes through the Internet, faxes, cell
phones, pagers and video recorders.
Sen. Tommy Moore,
D-Clearwater, said he has heard briefly about the
bill.
“I’m sure Mr. Smith has strong merit for this
proposed legislation,” Moore said. “I’ll certainly be willing
to listen to it.”
Sen. John Drummond, D-Ninety Six, said he
has not heard about the bill.
“We don’t usually hear about
bills from the House until they get to the Senate,” Drummond
said.
Rep. Gene Pinson, R-Greenwood, said he is for the
bill.
“I don’t think people want to get a bunch of junk
over the e-mail as much as they don’t want junk over the
telephone,” Pinson said. “It’s time to create a mechanism to
filter out all of this stuff.”
Rep. Mike Pitts, R-Laurens,
said having your name on a registry to stop unwanted calls and
e-mails sounds like a good idea.
“There are some questions
on how it needs to be enforced,” he said.
Rep. Anne Parks,
D-Greenwood, said she likes the bill.
“I think it will help
protect the privacy of people who don’t want electronic mail
solicitation through cell phones, pagers and computers,” Parks
said.
Most area residents surveyed said they also agree
with the bill.
Paul Pridmore, an accounting manager from
Greenwood, said he’s “all for it”.
“Some e-mail systems are
better than others in keeping it out,” said Pridmore, 41.
“It’s a nuisance.”
Win Ott, 32, owner of the Rough House in
Greenwood, said he wonders how the state will preserve freedom
of speech with the bill.
“How can you say this is spam
(junk e-mails)?” Ott said. “Spam is in the eye of the
beholder.
There are also filters they can buy or come with
the e-mail account.”
Carrie Putnam, 18, a server from Ware
Shoals, said she thinks the bill would be good.
“Your
e-mail will be blocked by unwanted e-mails, especially with
young children who have e-mail,” she said.
Bob Roy, 33, a
Waldenbooks employee from Greenwood, said he always gets
e-mails advertising for items.
“I’m very leery about giving
out my e-mail (address),” he said. “I get enough junk mail
through the postal service.”
Bobby McBride, 39, a food
service worker from Greenwood, said he doesn’t think the bill
is needed.
“Half of it is nothing but someone trying to
make a bunch of money,” he said.
Debbie Crow, 41, a realtor
from Ware Shoals, said the bill “will be wonderful” if it
passes.
“Children also have e-mail accounts,” she said.
“Solicitation for pornography happens on the e-mails. Some of
the advertisements are very provocative. It will help protect
children.”
Maya Hollinshead covers local government
and general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She
can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3305 or: mhollinshead@indexjournal.com
| |
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
