Guns have always been a fascination for Americans. In fact, almost 50% of Americans claim to have guns in their household, and the U.S. has the highest number of guns per capita in the world. This means that the U.S. is the only country where the number of guns surpasses the number of people. Hence, it is not shocking that in several states, you can easily purchase bullets from a vending machine, just like you would buy a soda or a candy bar. Yemen is the second most gun-dense country after the U.S., but it pales in comparison.
In the United States, regulations around ammunition purchases are surprisingly scarce, with only a few age-based restrictions in place. Long gun ammunition, such as for rifles and shotguns, requires purchasers to be at least 18 years old, while handgun ammunition requires buyers to be at least 21. To comply with these restrictions, American Rounds has developed an identity verification system for their bullet vending machines that can accurately determine the age of the purchaser.
According to the company’s website, their smart retail automated ammo dispensers come equipped with advanced AI technology, card scanning capability, and facial recognition software. The integrated software works in tandem to ensure that the individual using the dispenser matches the identification scanned, providing an added layer of security.
According to Cleveland.com, American Rounds’ machines have been popping up at various locations in Oklahoma and Alabama. In fact, there are currently six locations where the machines can be found. However, a recent report by a local news outlet in Alabama revealed that one of the machines was removed from a store in Tuscaloosa after concerns were raised about its legality during a city council meeting. The city’s legal department stated that the machines were indeed legal as long as they met the necessary zoning requirements. The store, on the other hand, claimed that they removed the machine on July 3rd due to poor sales.
