Ammunition vending machine removed in Tuscaloosa

An ammunition vending machine from a store in Tuscaloosa has disappeared, but had previously sparked a storm of indignation.

There is hardly a more controversial issue in the United States today than the sale of guns and ammunition. This issue ignited like a Fourth of July firework in Tuscaloosa this week when a novel idea was unveiled to make ammunition more readily available through a vending machine.

According to American Rounds, the company that developed the concept, an artificial intelligence-controlled vending machine was installed at the Fresh Value store at 4200 McFarland Blvd. last November. But it wasn’t until last Tuesday’s Tuscaloosa City Council Public Safety Committee meeting that the machine became a problem.

Commission President Kip Tyner announced that his phone was constantly “blowing up” with voters calling and asking how to allow such a device in the city. Tyner told TPD Chief Brent Blankley that it was through these calls that he first learned of the device’s existence. Blankley confirmed to Tyner that the device was legal.

By law, the machines are legal as long as they meet the appropriate zone requirements, which was the case with the Fresh Value machine.

Tyner expressed concern about the easy availability of ammunition, even though the machines have significant AI safeguards built in to prevent unauthorized persons from purchasing them.

Yesterday, Tyner posted on social media that the store clerk had decided to remove the machine. “If anyone wants to know more about this, they need to call the store manager! I’m just the messenger.”

A call to the Fresh Value store confirmed the machine’s removal on July 3, one day after Tyner raised the issue at the committee meeting. Fresh Value cited only four sales since November as the reason for the removal.

On American Rounds’ website, the machines are advertised as “…intelligent, automated retail ammunition dispensers that feature built-in AI technology, card scanning capability, and facial recognition software.”

“The individual pieces of software work together to verify the age of the purchaser and ensure that the person using the machine matches the scanned ID.”

American Rounds currently has a vending machine at another Fresh Value store in Pell City and at four locations in Oklahoma. The company also plans to put machines in Louisiana, Texas and other states, but has not ruled out putting a machine in Tuscaloosa again if a suitable location is found.

READ MORE: AI-powered vending machine sells ammo in Tuscaloosa store