By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- A U.S court last week ruled the federal Do-Not-Call list violates the free speech rights of telemarketers, despite a mandate from 50 million Americans who have signed up to end annoying telemarketing calls to their homes.
Most people questioned recently at Martin's Supermarket in Niles said they want the list to take effect. Few showed sympathy for telemarketers and their right-to-free-speech argument.
Melody Capps of Niles works a night shift and sleeps during the day. She is among those who would like to see an end to telemarketing calls.
She is among those who don't think the list interferes with telemarketers freedom of speech.
Randy and Dorothy Coward of Buchanan are, like millions of Americans, already on the list.
The retired couple have no sympathy for the argument that the list is hindering telemarketers right to free speech.
Jorge Bosque of Niles said he supports the list because of his parents, who receive many unwanted calls from telemarketers.
He thinks telemarketers are going over their boundaries by calling and "harassing" people.
Bosque, however, understands that telemarketers think the list interferes with their right to free speech.
Ken Keith of Niles is among those who signed up to be on the list, but he doesn't know whether it is going to work.
Still receiving numerous unwanted calls, he has resorted to what many people have been doing for years.
Linda McGlothlen, also of Niles, approves of the list and doesn't think it interferes with telemarketers right to free speech.
Mike Adkins, who walked into Martin's right after McGlothlen, agrees.
Adkins also supports of the list.
Amy Adams of Niles said she and her husband are on the list, but she understands why telemarketers are putting up a fight.
Estimates made by telemarketing companies indicate two million telemarketers may end up losing their job because of the new legislation.
Adams, however, thinks telemarketers should avoid calling too late or too early. "But they have a right to work, too," she said.
Dave Harrington is not on the list, but said he will be so shortly.
He doesn't think telemarketers are depraved of the right to free speech and said the argument goes both ways.
Betty Hodges has signed up to be on the list because she doesn't want to be disturbed by telemarketers. She thinks many of them are rude and call too late, too early, or at inconvenient times such as during dinner.