Banning Spam Would Kill Free Speech

I find the Times’ one-sided presentation of the “spam” issue disturbing [“State Spam Laws Rarely Enforced,” April 1] .

Spam is annoying, but so are lots of things that come along with freedom.

I would rather spend an extra three minutes a day deleting the many unsolicited e-mails that I receive than accept the overwhelming burden of telling merchants (unsavory or otherwise) that they haven’t the privilege to advertise via e-mail.

Those who “hijack” servers to send advertising are thieves. Those who send lawful and legitimate e-mail advertisements are merchants. We need to differentiate between the two and allow legitimate businesspeople to advertise. To do anything else would be a compromise of our basic right to make a living.

My life is full of advertising that I did not ask for--in many formats--and it’s mostly bothersome. But when given the choice of a world without intrusive advertising (and the products being advertised) and the crazy, irritating and unpredictable world of free commerce, it’s a slam dunk. I choose spam, and freedom.

Janine Levinson

Glendale

Please tell me which of the following is the most enjoyable to receive?

* Unsolicited e-mail from companies trying to sell something we don’t need.

* Unsolicited junk mail from the Postal Service for carpet, auto repair services, legal services and charities, especially around Christmas.

* Unsolicited telephone calls from stock and bond salesmen, police and firefighter associations and other commercial establishments, again around the end of the year.

If we are going to outlaw one thing, then let’s outlaw everything that is unsolicited. That should teach us a lesson and kill our economy permanently.

Ben Perry

Camarillo

Everyone’s missing the point in stopping commercial spam by trying to stop the messengers.

Go after their clients, the ones whose products or services are being offered and who paid for the spam to be sent. They’re easy to find--their contact information has to work if they want your business.

Create a federal statue against sending incorrectly marked spam, borrow the techniques of the child porn squad, and go undercover to follow the money.

Andy Pearlman

Marina del Rey