Vending

Senators call for ATF investigation into ammo vending machines

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August 23, 2024

Two U.S. senators are seeking answers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regarding the growing use of ammunition vending machines in retail stores, according to a WHIO TV 7 report. Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have expressed concerns about the potential dangers posed by these machines, which use facial recognition technology to verify customer identities.

In a letter to ATF Director Steven Dettelbach, the senators raised questions about the compliance of these dispensers with federal gun safety regulations. "As our nation continues to grapple with an epidemic of gun violence, these machines threaten to make ammunition more widely available and accessible in our communities, especially to prohibited individuals and those who pose a threat to public safety," they wrote.

The senators urged the ATF to closely examine these machines and their place within the federal regulatory scheme, and to use its authority to prohibit them in supermarkets, grocery stores, and other general retailers.

The company behind the dispensers, American Rounds, has defended its product, claiming it is fully compliant with federal law and offers a safer alternative to traditional methods of ammunition storage and sales.