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Paul Allen donates $1M to gun reform ballot initiative

(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

SEATTLE — Microsoft co-founder and Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen has donated $1 million to a campaign seeking to raise the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21 in Washington state.

Over 1,000 students, civic leader, and others joined Allen in raising over $3 million to support initiative 1639, safe schools, safe communities and other gun violence prevention efforts in Washington state.

Allen tweeted his support for Initiative 1639 Monday:

According to the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, "The proposed initiative will address many of the root causes of recent tragedies by raising the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles to 21; creating an enhanced background check system similar to what is required for handguns; requiring completion of a firearm safety training course; and creating standards for secure storage to prevent guns from falling into dangerous hands."

The group's initiative effort comes after lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled Statehouse declined to bump the minimum age to buy semi-automatic weapons after the February mass shooting at a Florida high school.

The alliance needs roughly 260,000 petition signatures before the initiative can qualify for the 2018 ballot.

For more information on Initiative 1639, click here.

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