US introduces vending machines for bullet to make ammunition 'more available'
- In Reports
- 10:51 PM, Jul 08, 2024
- Myind Staff
In an effort to make ammunition "more available" for gun owners, three US states have introduced vending machines for bullets in grocery shops. In some shops in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas, customers can now scan their ID on a device similar to a drinks vending machine and walk away with ammunition for their weapons.
Manufactured by the firm American Rounds, these machines, they say are “as easy to use as an ATM” and are “free from constraints” of store hours.
“Our automated ammo dispensers are accessible 24/7, ensuring that you can buy ammunition on your own schedule, free from the constraints of store hours and long lines,” American Rounds' website read.
The machines employ "built-in AI technology, card scanning capability, and facial recognition software" to match a buyer's ID to their face and confirm they are over 18 years old. Customers select the ammunition they wish to purchase on a touchscreen, scan their ID, and collect it from a compartment at the bottom of the machine.
American Rounds have said they will continue to roll out more such kiosks in districts where "hunting" is popular like Louisiana and Colorado.
In its promotional video, the company shows a customer moving through a shop using the vending machines on a motorised wheelchair, before raising her fist in the air and shouting: “It’s ammo? Whoo!”
According to the latest data from the National Centre for Health Statistics, Alabama has the fourth-highest rate of gun deaths in the United States.
In 2022, there were 25.5 deaths from firearms in the state per 100,000 people, with a total of 1,278 fatalities.
The Biden administration has declared gun safety a public health crisis and is urging states to adopt stricter laws on firearm ownership. Joe Biden has called for federally mandated universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, although these measures face opposition from Republicans.
Grant Magers, the American Rounds CEO, said the company had received more than 200 requests to install the machines and that number was “growing daily”.
He told Newsweek that the company supported “law-abiding, responsible gun ownership”.
The machines are legal, and records of the transactions are stored to comply with regulations in some states.
Image source: The Telegraph
Comments