New company American Rounds has rolled out artificial intelligence-assisted ammunition vending machines at grocery stores.
Known as Automated Ammo Retail Machines (AARM), the machines operate 24/7 and permit customers to conveniently buy ammunition without the restrictions of store hours. The company further noted that their machines use facial recognition and ID scanning technology to certify that buyers are 21 years old and above.
Federal law requires a person to be 18 to buy shotgun and rifle ammunition and 21 to buy handgun ammunition. This means people can leave the store with milk, eggs and boxes of 9mm and .223 ammunition. (Related: Ammo prices skyrocket due to global gunpowder shortage caused by Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts.)
"I'm very thankful for those who are taking the time to get to know us and not just making assumptions about what we're about," American Rounds CEO Grant Magers said. "We are very pro-Second Amendment, but we are for responsible gun ownership, and we hope we’re improving the environment for the community."
The company has one machine in Alabama, four in Oklahoma and one in Texas, with plans for another in Texas and one in Colorado in the coming weeks.
Magers said the company's AI-powered ammunition vending machines are also in the process of being distributed to other sites in two other states, with plans in place to expand to even more states.
"We have over 200 store requests for AARM units covering approximately nine states currently and that number is growing daily," Magers said, adding that these vending machines promote "law-abiding, responsible gun ownership."
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Currently, ammunition is sold off the shelf or online. "These situations result in unintentional sales to underage buyers and, in the case of retail businesses, a high theft rate," he noted.
Critics say these machines belong in gun stores, not grocery stores
The machines will have no ammo restrictions and will be refilled every week. However, some don't like the idea.
"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."
But Magers said grocery stores have actually contacted them about the idea of selling ammunition through automated technology. "People I think got shocked when they thought about the idea of selling ammo at a grocery store. But as we explained, how is that any different than Walmart?" Magers said.
He's alluding to vending machines for other age-restricted materials. Corporations have created related technology to sell alcoholic beverages, and a company put automated kiosks to sell cannabis products in dispensaries in American states where marijuana is legal.
There's also a company established by Pennsylvania police officer that puts bullet-vending machines in private gun clubs and ranges. Those machines do not have the age verification device of AARM, but are placed in locations with an age requirement to enter.
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Watch the video below about the face-scanning technology of a vending machine.
This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.
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