Blazers Owner Paul Allen Contributes $1 Million to Washington Gun Control Measure

The initiative would ask Washington voters to raise the age for purchasing semi-automatic weapons to 21.

Paul G. Allen studies a brain sample with Allen Institute for Brain Science CEO Allan Jones. (jasonatvulcan / Wikimedia Commons)
By Nigel Jaquiss

Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder and Seattle native better known locally as the owner of the Portland Trail Blazers, has contributed $1 million to a Washington ballot initiative to tighten restrictions on gun ownership.

Allen announced his donation on Twitter, and the Seattle Times first noted his message.

"Initiative 1639 is a reasonable and necessary measure that will improve the safety of our schools and our communities, which is why I have contributed a million dollars to the campaign," Allen tweeted today. "I hope people throughout the state will support the campaign, so that we can qualify and pass this important initiative into law."

If it makes the November ballot, the initiative would ask Washington voters to raise the age for purchasing semi-automatic weapons to 21; create a stronger background check system; require training for purchases and beef up storage requirements.

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