Ammo vending machines installed in southern grocery stores, purporting to make access safer. Lots of unknowns and this further normalizes guns in a country that still has far too much gun violence. Glad to speak w/ @nytimes on this today. https://t.co/foRVSJmkoC
— Dan Semenza (@dsemenzcrim) July 11, 2024
A Texas-based company, American Rounds, has begun installing vending machines that dispense gun ammunition in grocery stores across Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama. The machines offer ammunition for handguns, rifles, and shotguns and use advanced technology to ensure secure transactions.
Extremely concerning.
North Texas company deploys ammunition vending machines in grocery stores, raising concerns over accessibility and ID verification.#TxLege https://t.co/IQnqqLPy1j
— Rafael Anchía (@RafaelAnchia) July 12, 2024
Customers must scan their IDs and use facial recognition to verify they are at least 21 years old before purchasing ammunition. To enhance security, the machines only accept card payments, not cash. Grant Magers, the CEO of American Rounds, said their system ensures ammo is not simply accessible on a shelf and that ID verification is required.
Texas expands ammo vending machines
He noted that typical purchases are small, usually one or two boxes of rounds. Some gun control advocates have expressed concerns about the accessibility of ammunition through these machines.
“Adults in some U.S. states can now buy gun ammunition out of AI-powered vending machines right at their local grocery store.
The company that makes them argues it’s a safer way to sell ammo than online or off the shelf.”: NPR https://t.co/fZJWMi0ROG
— W. Gyude Moore (@gyude_moore) July 11, 2024
I'm not sure when reality became satirical, but clearly we are there.https://t.co/LoZyJbluW0
— Glen Pyle | #WomensHeartHealth ❤️🩹 (@glenpyle) July 13, 2024
They argue that stricter regulations, rather than vending machine technology, could better address issues like ammunition theft and underage purchases. To purchase ammunition from the machines, customers use a touch screen to select the desired type of rounds, scan their ID cards, and validate their identity through facial recognition. Magers assured us that customer data would not be stored or shared.
We are pro-Second Amendment, but we are also very much in favor of responsible gun owners,” Magers stated, emphasizing the company’s commitment to responsible ammunition sales. American Rounds plans to expand the installation of these vending machines, with two more set to be operational in Texas and Colorado by the end of the month.
