SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- If you're fed up with annoying, unsolicited e-mail, you may soon be able to profit from going after the people who send it.

As you check your e-mail, chances are good that 40 percent of the messages are advertisements, or spam, that you did not sign up for. But what if you could turn the tables and go after the people who are targeting you?

There are three new proposals to help stop spam, including one that gives you the right to become a bounty hunter. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., has unveiled a plan today to "kill" spam.

"I think there are millions of Americans waiting to hear those words. This is driving people absolutely bonkers," Lofgren said.

Lofgren's bill requires spammers to clearly label their e-mails with the letters ADV so it can be screened. If the spammers don't identify themselves, people can track them down, turn them in and receive 20 percent of the spammer's fine. The idea comes from Stanford University professor Lawrence Lessig.

"That bounty hunting system will track down spammers so that it no longer pays to deliver spam," Lessig said.

Three of the biggest e-mail providers announced Monday that they're also tracking down and restricting spammers. And a California lawmaker is working on a bill allowing consumers to sue for $500 for each unsolicited e-mail.

The e-mail marketers are fighting to protect their right to spam. They have successfully fought a number of bills aimed at curbing spam, and they've filed lawsuits against groups that block spam.