Amid rising gun violence in the United States, some grocery stores across the country now have vending machines stocked with ammunition. According to a report, a company has installed automated kiosks in grocery stores, allowing gun owners in three US states to purchase rounds from these devices. Wire.
In some stores in Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama, people can now get ammunition for their firearms simply by scanning their ID at a machine that resembles a beverage vending machine. The machines’ manufacturer, American Rounds, claims that operating them is similar to using an ATM. “Our automated ammo dispensers are accessible 24/7, ensuring you can purchase ammunition according to your schedule, free from the constraints of store hours and long lines,” the company says on its website.
According to the firm, these vending machines have “built-in AI technology, card scanning capabilities, and facial recognition software.” According to American Rounds, the software can confirm the buyer’s identity and determine if the machine matches the scanned identification. Customers use the touchscreen to select the ammunition they want, then the machine scans their ID to dispense it from a hole in the bottom.
According to Newsweek“Eight machines are installed or in the process of being installed in four states.” The first machine was installed at a Pell City, Alabama, Fresh Value grocery store. Since then, four have been placed at a Super C Mart in Oklahoma and one at a Canyon Lake, Texas, Lowe’s Market. Another is being placed at LaGrace Food Stores in Buena Vista, Colorado, and another will soon be installed at a Lowe’s Market in Canyon Lake, said Grant Magers, CEO of American Rounds.
“We currently have over 200 store requests for AARM (automatic ammo retail dispenser) units covering approximately nine states and that number is growing daily,” he told Newsweek. Mr. Magers said the company supports “law-abiding, responsible gun ownership.”
He added, “Currently ammunition is sold over the shelf or online. Under these circumstances ammunition is unknowingly sold to underage buyers and in the case of retail stores, the theft rate is very high. What we like about this concept is that AARM units use state-of-the-art ID scanners with facial recognition before the transaction.”
Additionally, according to Oklahoma TV station KOCO-TV, there is no limit on the amount of ammunition customers can purchase and the vending machines will be refilled every two to four weeks.
However, a machine in Alabama was recently removed after debate over its legality.
Tuscaloosa City Council President Kip Tyner said when he first started getting calls about the machines, he thought it was a joke. Tuscaloosa City Council President Kip Tyner said when he first started getting calls about the machines, he thought it was a joke. “I got a couple of calls about ammunition being sold in grocery stores, vending machines. “I thought it was a hoax. I thought it was a joke — but it’s not,” he said.
It is noteworthy that according to Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley, these machines are authorized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and are legal.
Discussing this, Mr. Magers told Newsweek: “American Rounds made a business decision to move the Fresh Value automated ammo retail machine located in Tuscaloosa to another store location. This was a business decision based solely on sales at that specific store.”
