Josh Wallace at KSBW Action News reports on something new showing up in grocery stores:
Automated ammunition vending machines have recently been installed inside several grocery stores across Oklahoma and Alabama.
No, this is not snark or fake news, as far as I can tell.
Don’t those graphics make you proud to be an American?
The machines, created by American Rounds, offer ammo to be purchased without engaging with a store clerk. They “are accessible 24/7, ensuring that you can buy ammunition on your own schedule, free from the constraints of store hours and long lines,” according to the company’s website.
The company states that the machines are equipped with “the latest AI technology” with card-scanning and facial-recognition software to verify the identity and age of each buyer.
The company states that its system ensures all transactions comply with federal and local regulations.
Grant Magers, chief executive officer of American Rounds, said there are no limitations on the amount of ammunition you can purchase, other than when the machines run out of stock. He estimated restocking will take place every two to four weeks, depending on sales.
What could possibly go wrong with making it more convenient to buy ammunition 24/7?
American Rounds has more information at their website, including a list of stores where the machines can be found and a video explaining how they operate. They plan to roll out these machines across the south and the southeast over the coming year. The video shows a store owner excited about how the machine will drive foot traffic — and then there’s the enthusiastic response from a shopper.
Remember when Rhett Butler in “Gone with the Wind” harshed the mellow of the secessionists by pointing out the South lacked any cannon foundries? If only he’d known where we’d be today. Problem solved.
I don’t suppose anyone has thought to ask if these machines might be equipped to store a photo of every buyer, for review by law enforcement in case someone becomes involved in “an incident” or has an order of protection against them. According to CEO Grant Magers:
...Magers said the ID scanners are the same used by the Transportation Security Administration at airports and that the machines use multi-point facial recognition to ensure that the photo on the ID matches the person attempting to buy the ammo...
...As far as record keeping, Magers said different states require transactional records be kept on ammunition, saying some could require records to be kept for months and other states require records kept for years.
He said transactional data is always required to be kept and said residents should check their state’s laws to find out more information on how long those records are required to be kept.
Magers said no information collected during the purchase is shared, and that it is solely for the purpose of age verification.
It would be a shame if someone started a rumor that the Feds will be able to keep a record of everyone who uses one of these machines...