Automated retail machines are increasingly diversifying beyond snacks and beverages, with some now dispensing ammunition. American Rounds, a Richardson, Texas-based company, has introduced these vending machines in grocery stores across Alabama, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas. The machines verify IDs using TSA-grade scanners to ensure buyers are 21 or older, then employ facial recognition technology for further verification before dispensing ammunition selected via touch screen.
Grant Magers, CEO of American Rounds, emphasizes the machines’ security measures, contrasting them with online or over-the-counter purchases. He asserts that their method, which does not store consumer data on any cloud, maintains Second Amendment integrity while enhancing safety through rigorous verification steps.
Federal law mandates purchasers to be at least 18 for shotgun and rifle ammunition and 21 for handgun ammunition, a criterion enforced by the vending machines. Despite controversy, including concerns raised by gun safety advocates, Magers defends the machines as a secure alternative in communities lacking convenient access to ammunition retailers.
These machines join other automated sales methods like those for alcoholic beverages and cannabis products, reflecting a broader trend in retail innovation. Magers notes initial interest primarily from rural areas seeking easier access to hunting supplies and other ammunition needs.
