Vending machines stocked with ammunition have been installed in several grocery stores across the United States, providing a new way for consumers to purchase ammo conveniently. These machines, developed by American Rounds, allow customers over 21 to buy ammunition with the same ease as using an ATM.
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“They are accessible 24/7, ensuring that you can buy ammunition on your own schedule, free from the constraints of store hours and long lines,” the company’s website reads.
Machines employ TSA-level ID scanners and facial recognition
Grant Magers, the CEO of American Rounds, also affirmed that there are no restrictions to the quantity of bullets one can buy unless the machine has run out of bullets. Restocking is expected to happen every two to four weeks, depending on the rate of sales.
According to Magers, the ID scanners used are the same as those used by the TSA at airports. These machines employ multi-point facial recognition to confirm that the image on the ID is indeed of the person attempting to purchase the ammo.
There are also age requirements for buyers; Buyers must be 21 years of age or older because different states have different laws on the purchase of some types of ammunition. The company agreed to make the minimum age 21 as a way of obeying the toughest laws across the country.
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Magers also pointed out that there is no standardized record-keeping for transactional records of ammunition sales across the states. Certain states demand the records to be kept for months while others demand it to be kept for years.
The company retains transactional data as needed and encourages residents to consult state statutes for information on record destruction frequencies. Magers confirmed that none of the data obtained during the purchase will be disclosed and will only be used to confirm the age of the buyer.
Sales increase as customers embrace convenient ammo purchasing
According to Magers, since the machines were installed, the sales have been on the rise each month. Reports indicate that the customers are satisfied and are making repeat purchases.
On June 27, the company posted on X a video that shows two recent applications of the machines in Super C Mart’s grocery stores in Oklahoma. Furthermore, the company listed two stores in Alabama that had the machines.
However, not everything is rosy; a machine in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was dismantled after a city council meeting raised a concern about the legal use of the machine. Tuscaloosa City Council President Kip Tyner at first dismissed the reports of ammunition for sale in grocery store vending machines as an April Fool’s Day joke.
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However, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley stated that the machines are legal and have the blessing of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Magers stated that moving the Fresh Value Automated Ammo Retail Machine from Tuscaloosa was a commercial decision due to the outcome of the sale in that certain store.
Cryptopolitan Reporting by Brenda Kanana
