Ammo Vending Machines: What Are They and Should You Use Them?

This week, residents of several states noticed a new installation next to the coin converting kiosk: a vending machine selling ammo. But the existence of ammo vending machines begs the question: should you use them? Let’s take a closer look at these gadgets and how they work.

Ammo Vending Machines Debut in Four States

The first machine is already up and running in a Fresh Value grocery store in Alabama. A total of eight machines are currently up and running or are being installed in Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado.

The machines are the brainchild of Dallas-based startup American Rounds. The CEO of American Rounds, Grant Magers, said that his company has already received requests for 200 of the machines nationwide.

Purchasers can buy as much ammo as they want from the machines. Their only limitation is the stock of ammo within the vendor itself. Machines will be restocked every two to four weeks.

The ATF has confirmed that these machines are legal, too. That’s because you don’t need a Federal Firearms License (FFL) to sell ammo – only actual firearms. That means anyone can sell ammo as long as they comply with state and local laws.

Required Verification

American Rounds touts its vendors as a more secure alternative to traditional ammo stores. The machines employ facial recognition and AI technologies to verify a purchaser’s identity before dispensing ammo. They also require a buyer to scan their ID. Mager says that this makes American Rounds’ vendors less likely to sell ammo to underage or prohibited people.

The Big Picture

The main question you need to ask yourself before you buy ammo from a vending machine is: how much do you value your privacy? These machines employ AI to process facial recognition data, and they’re hanging on to the records.

When these companies inevitably suffer data breaches, nefarious actors will be able to access that information. That’s a serious concern, since experts estimate that three out of every four businesses are susceptible to some kind of cyber attack.

At Southern Defense, we take your privacy seriously. Hackers won’t be able to access your biometric information from our records, since we don’t keep track of that information to begin with. You can rest easy knowing that you aren’t leaving yourself open to attack.

Buying ammo from an online vendor is more convenient, too. Instead of heading to a vending machine to pick up your ammo, you can order it delivered directly to your home. When paired with free shipping deals, you can save money by purchasing online, too.