Ammo vending machines may come to grocery stores soon

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Vending machines can have a variety of goods like chips and drinks, but have you ever heard of a vending machine that dispenses ammunition?

It may sound like a device out of a video game, but American Rounds LLC, founded last summer, is leading the charge to make ammunition more accessible by setting up AI-automated vending machines at grocery stores across the South.

The Dallas-based company set up its first Automated Ammo Retail Machine at the Fresh Value Grocery Store in Pell City, Alabama, back last November.

American Rounds CEO Grant Magers said the idea for the vending machines was to provide a safe way to sell ammunition.

“Currently ammunition is sold off the shelf or online,” Magers said in a message to 8 On Your Side. “These environments lead to inadvertent sales to underaged purchasers and or (in the case of retail stores) a high theft rate.”

To keep ammo sales safe, the AARMs are kept inside retail locations and use ID scanners along with facial recognition technology before a customer can purchase ammo. This keeps ammo out of the hands of minors or people who are using fake IDs.

However, the company has dedicated to protecting customers’ information and will not give out or sell their data, Magers said.

“The machines themselves weigh up to 2000lbs and are well secured from theft,” he said. “As a company our team are supporters of law abiding responsible gun ownership. We believe in the second amendment and that providing a safe and secure method to sell ammunition is needed in the market. It maintains the integrity of the second amendment and reduces the opportunity for error in retail sales environments.”

Since setting up their first machine in Pell City, American Rounds has expanded to eight different locations: the original in Alabama, four at Super C Marts in Oklahoma, and two at Lowes Markets in Canyon Lake, Texas.

According to Magers, American Rounds has gotten over 200 requests for the AARM for stores across nine states.

As for Florida, the CEO said he hopes to have the machines set up in the Sunshine State soon.

“Absolutely we would love to expand to Florida. We have received numerous requests,” Magers said. “Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to be a part of the great Florida community soon.”

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