A Texas-based company is revolutionizing ammunition sales with the introduction of vending machines in grocery stores across multiple states. American Rounds, headquartered in Richardson, Texas, has installed computerized "automated retail machines" that dispense ammunition in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas, NBC Dallas reports.
The company launched its first machine in Alabama in November 2023 and has since expanded to eight locations across four states. Magers claims the demand is surging, with over 200 stores currently on a waiting list for installations.
The machines employ advanced technology to ensure compliance with age restrictions and identification requirements. Customers must first verify their ID using a scanner similar to those used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The system checks that buyers are at least 21 years old, which is a standard requirement at all locations. Federal law requires individuals to be 18 to purchase shotgun and rifle ammunition and 21 for handgun ammunition.
The purchasing process involves several steps, including facial recognition software to confirm that the buyer matches the ID presented. After completing the transaction, the ammunition is dispensed from the machine.
American Rounds kiosks
CEO Grant Magers👇 pic.twitter.com/eoNpzPIguz— Truthseeker (@Xx17965797N) July 10, 2024
While American Rounds touts the safety features of their system, the concept has faced criticism from gun safety advocates. A senior vice president for Everytown for Gun Safety expressed concerns in a statement to NBC Dallas, saying, "Innovations that make ammunition sales more secure via facial recognition, age verification, and the tracking of serial sales are promising safety measures that belong in gun stores, not in the place where you buy your kids milk."
Grant Magers, CEO of American Rounds, defends the technology, arguing that it enforces stricter ID verification compared to online or off-the-shelf purchases. "It's the safest, most secure method of ammunition sales on the market, and it completely maintains the integrity of the Second Amendment," he told NBC Dallas. "We don't store the consumer's data, we don't take their ID or their facial, it's not stored on any cloud."
The concept of vending machines for age-restricted products is not entirely new. Similar technologies have been developed for selling alcoholic beverages and cannabis products in states where marijuana is legal. Additionally, a Pennsylvania police officer created a company about 12 years ago that places bullet-vending machines in private gun clubs and ranges.
American Rounds' machines are primarily located in rural communities where access to ammunition retailers may be limited. The machines can be found in Super C Mart and Fresh Value grocery stores in small cities such as Pell City, Alabama, and Noble, Oklahoma.
The introduction of these vending machines comes amid ongoing concerns about gun violence in the United States. According to a database maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University, there have been 15 mass killings involving firearms so far in 2024, compared to 39 in 2023.
