Everett, Wash.
Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2008

DO NOT MAIL REGISTRY

Banning junk mail is a security risk

 Regarding the March 11 editorial endorsing a do not mail registry: I don't think that would be a good idea, and here is why. It is not like the Do Not Call registry because if you don't want junk mail, you can throw it away unopened (and I recycle mine) but telemarketers are annoying and often call when people just want to relax after a hard day at work.

I do think some sort of constraints need to be placed against credit card companies to cut down on what they send out, but looking at my usual junk mail, most of it is advertising for products and services.

I have heard people talk about a possible loss of jobs a do not mail registry could cause in the Postal Service and printing houses, but my concern is security. I get advertising flyers now (two-three times per year) left on my porch, or worse, hung on the knob of my front door. What if this began to happen two-three times per month or even per week? Companies are going to get this stuff to us; it's the nature of the beast. When I have to be out of town for a while, I stop my mail, stop The Herald and put interior lights on timers to make it appear as though the house is occupied. I would rather have all those flyers and letters come through the Post Office, where one call can stop 99.99 percent of them from being delivered while I am away.

Jim Reid
Everett
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