John—

Over the last year, there’s been a troubling new trend—ammunition vending machines have started to appear in grocery stores across several states.

These machines are available to anyone at any time and allow users to select ammunition using a touch screen then walk away with a box of bullets, no background check and no human interaction required.

The gun lobby’s dangerous “guns everywhere” agenda threatens the safety of our neighbors, friends, and kids. We’re fighting back—are you with us?

Ammunition vending machines are shockingly easy to use—and misuse. Here are some of the numerous vulnerabilities:

• The machines make straw purchasing—when one person buys the ammunition and hands it off to someone ineligible—incredibly easy. 
• They can’t identify when a buyer is intoxicated, experiencing a mental health crisis, or demonstrating suspicious behavior.
• They can be tampered with and are susceptible to break-in and theft.

Putting ammunition in stores next to “impulse buy” items at checkout like gum, chips, and candy only serves the gun lobby’s efforts to normalize weapons in public spaces, ultimately making our communities less safe. It shouldn’t be as easy for anyone to buy an unlimited number of bullets as it is for them to buy a can of soda—and often with less human interaction.

Ammunition vending machines are just the latest sign that America’s relationship with guns is broken, but we’re not backing down. Donate to GIFFORDS Law Center today to help us build a safer future.

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Gratefully,
Spencer

PS: Read our post to learn more about the dangers of unmanned ammo vending machines.

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Spencer Myers
State and Local Policy Attorney
GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence