Vending machines that sell ammunition have been installed in grocery stores in Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama, and the company that produces them says they plan to expand to other parts of the country as well. The machines are made by the company American Rounds and allow customers over the age of 21 to buy ammunition using "built-in AI technology, card scanning capability and facial recognition software," according to the company. Grants Magers, the CEO of American Rounds, Grants Magers, said that there are eight machines installed or in the process of being installed across four states, but said that the company has over 200 store requests for AARM [Automated Ammo Retail Machine] units covering approximately nine states currently and that number is growing daily,” Newsweek reports.
Some worry that the expanded locations where ammo is available will lead to more shootings in the U.S., where gun violence is already rampant, the AP reports. “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,” said Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety. “In a country awash in guns and ammo, where guns are the leading cause of deaths for kids, we don’t need to further normalize the sale and promotion of these products.” Magers waived off those concerns. “People I think got shocked when they thought about the idea of selling ammo at a grocery store,” Magers said. “But as we explained, how is that any different than Walmart?”