When news about vending machines that dispense bullets hit the headlines, it got a lot of mixed reactions. Some see it as irresponsible while others see it as a convenience. It looks like stores are listening to the latter 200 of them want one of their own.
You Might See More Bullet Vending Machines Soon
Vending machines are no longer limited to food and other necessities you might need. You suddenly ran out of bullets? You can now go to the nearest store that has a vending machine full of them. After all, it's America where guns outnumber the population.
The vending machine for bullets, also called Automated Ammo Retail Machine or AARMs for short, is already active in eight locations in the US such as stores in Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado, according to Gizmodo.
Other stores saw it and thought to themselves: "I want one of those too." Now, the manufacturer of the machines, American Rounds, is getting more orders. The company's CEO said that there are over 200 requests for the units covering nine states and that the number grows daily.
It's no surprise that a company can easily sell vending machines that dispense bullets seeing as there are only a few regulations around ammunition sales in the US. Like the stores manned by humans, the machine will also refrain from selling to buyers who are not of appropriate age.
You can be as young as 18 if you feel like purchasing a firearm, but you have to be at least 21 to buy ammunition for it, according to federal law. However, unlike vending machines, physical stores are vulnerable to things like theft or underaged buyers, the company CEO reasoned.
How AARM Works
Since vending machines are meant to function without the need for a human seller, they need a system that can determine whether the person purchasing bullets is not underaged, and so American Rounds is using AI technology to determine that.
The website states that the machines have built-in AI technology, card scanning capability, and facial recognition software. Each of those will work together to verify that the person is eligible for a purchase. CEO Grant Magers went as far as saying that they are more secure.
"The machines themselves weigh up to 2000 lbs and are well secured from theft. We only place them inside stores and not outside." The kiosks also have screens where buyers can choose what kind of ammunition they might want to buy.
Before they can finalize the purchase, they will have to go through an age verification process and ID scanning. Buyers can use their driver's license for that. To make sure that the ID really is theirs, the machine will use the camera for 360-degree facial recognition.
"Our automated ammo dispensers represent the pinnacle of this innovation, designed to deliver precision, efficiency, and reliability," the website says, "By embracing change and challenging the status quo, we aim to revolutionize the ammunition industry, making purchasing simpler, faster, and smarter for everyone."
