NFL owner donates $1 million to pushing gun control
The Seattle Seahawks have been one of the most politically and socially active NFL teams for years.
From former defensive lineman Michael Bennett’s anthem protests and racial activism to wide receiver Doug Baldwin’s political proclamations and coach Pete Carroll’s anti-war views, the Seahawks are a franchise that hasn’t hesitated to speak out on the issues of the day.
Team owner Paul Allen has used his deep pockets to do his talking.
The Microsoft co-founder, whose net worth is nearly $20 billion, has donated to numerous political candidates and campaigns over the years, from Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton to the NFL’s political action committee.
On Monday, Allen announced a $1 million donation to a gun control effort called Initiative 1639.
My statement on a gun safety initiative in my home state of Washington:
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. 1/2
— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) May 21, 2018
I hope people throughout the state will support the campaign, so that we can qualify and pass this important initiative into law. 2/2
— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) May 21, 2018
Allen called it “a reasonable and necessary measure that will improve the safety of our schools and our communities.”
Initiative 1639, which the Alliance for Gun Responsibility is trying to get on the Washington state ballot in November, is billed as effort to “address many of the root causes of recent tragedies,” including the February school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and the one last week in Santa Fe, Texas.
It would do this by “raising the age to purchase semiautomatic 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.”
Many people expressed support for Allen’s effort in response to his tweet.
Thank you for putting your money on a potential measure towards gun control. As a teacher in Iowa, I wish more states would do something like this.
— KatherineBallensky (@KateBallensky) May 21, 2018
You’re the best Uncle Pauly!!!
— Angie (@angiekicksyoass) May 21, 2018
Others, however, questioned the effort.
https://twitter.com/KellyOMera/status/998646080035217412
https://twitter.com/wardaallen/status/998777009269456896
https://twitter.com/The_Webologist/status/998751777007652865
The National Rifle Association called Initiative 1639 “an egregious attack on Second Amendment freedoms.”
The group filed a legal challenge to effort last week.
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