Subject: Proposal to outlaw "naked shorting" by "market makers" Author: james pricher at Internet Date: 11/23/99 4:30 PM I am writing to express my appreciation for the proposal by the SEC to consider outlawing "naked shorting" as occurs epidemically with regard to OTC/BB stocks. Evidence of this practice is rampant and seemingly uncontrolled to the point of costing many investors millions of dollars while suffocating the growth and prosperity of new, innovative companies. Many investors, myself included, feel helpless when the stock of a company with strong underlying fundamentals is continually being held down in price, even though there is far more buying than selling! "Market makers" continually minipulate many of these stocks by selling nonexistent shares (illegal shorting). The value of these stocks should be based upon shares bought and shares sold, not the manipulation of "market makers" utilizing unlimited amounts of nonexistent shares to control the market "FOR PROFIT" at the expense of investors and ultimately the demise of small start-up companies. Perhaps someone could reply with an explanation as to why such an apparantly fraud riddled practice is allowed to continue in todays marketplace. Thank you. James Pricher 132 White Birch Lane Dallas, Pa. 18612