Grocery Shoppers May Soon Find a New Product: Bullets

Over the Fourth of July weekend, a vending machine selling firearm ammunition briefly appeared in a Fresh Value grocery store in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, before being removed due to poor sales, according to reports. This instance is part of a broader trend, as Grocery Shoppers May Soon Find a New Product: Bullets in other supermarkets across the country.

ABC News reported that the vending machine, provided by ammo company American Rounds, was initially installed but removed on July 3 after low demand. American Rounds’ vending machines use artificial intelligence and card-scanning technology to ensure that customers are 21 years or older, according to Newsweek.

Courtesy of American Rounds

Grant Magers, CEO of American Rounds, revealed in an interview with Newsweek that the company has already installed or is in the process of installing eight similar machines across four states. These machines have been set up in four Super C Mart stores in Oklahoma, as well as a Fresh Value in Pell City, Alabama, and a Lowe’s Market in Canyon Lake, Texas.

“We currently have over 200 store requests for our Automated Ammo Retail Machines (AARM), spanning approximately nine states, and that number is growing daily,” Magers said.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) confirmed that these vending machines are legal and do not require a special license. However, ATF emphasized that commercial ammunition sales must still comply with both state and federal laws.