News broke this week that American Rounds, which promotes itself with the line "Ammo Sales Like You've Never Seen Before," is operating vending machines that dispense ammunition at grocery stores in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas. The company has plans to expand to Colorado, and other states are likely in their sights.

It's a dangerous, irresponsible business practice in a country struggling to contain an epidemic of gun violence.

More than half of American adults say they or someone they know have been exposed to gun violence. Mass shootings and daily acts of violence are alarmingly common.

Now, we have ammo vending machines that make it faster and more convenient to buy the projectiles that wound and kill. Increasing the ease of buying ammunition for people who are struggling to control their impulses and rage will put more lives in danger.

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Gun violence is an American epidemic

Last year, there were more than 600 mass shootings in the United States, and firearms were used to kill or wound more than 55,000 Americans. Those figures have unfortunately become the norm in recent years. There have been more than 600 mass shootings every year in America since 2020. Everyday gun violence claims lives and tears apart families. No one is immune.

Most gun violence is preventable, but the proliferation of firearms makes reducing such violence much more difficult. From mass shootings at schools and churches, to grocery stores and workplaces, the increased threat of death by gun follows us everywhere.  

The idea of vending machines dispensing ammunition in the same stores where we buy diapers and bananas seems unreal, like something out of a dystopian novel. 

Ammo machines are convenient, but at what cost?

The ammo machines function much like other vending machines that dispense snacks or beverages. A range of ammunition is available at the touch of a button. Company executives note that buyers must submit an ID showing they are at least 21 years old. The machines use facial recognition software to confirm that the customer's face and ID match.

But it's not hard to see how these machines could be easily exploited by those with malicious intent. People with impulsive and violent tendencies such as domestic abusers could find it easier to stockpile ammunition without anyone noting whether they are visibly angry, distraught or even drunk or high.

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Traditional firearm and ammunition sales involve a degree of human oversight, allowing for the identification of suspicious behavior or red flags. Vending machines eliminate that critical layer of personal discernment and scrutiny. 

Vending machines are designed for convenience and immediacy, which can encourage impulse buying. That is particularly dangerous when it comes to ammunition because the anger and fear that often drive gun violence may dissipate with time.  

The introduction of ammo vending machines at a time when the nation is grappling with a gun violence epidemic is reckless. It prioritizes convenience over public safety and disregards the volatile nature of gun violence. 

Instead of making ammunition more accessible, efforts should focus on comprehensive measures to reduce gun violence. That includes better enforcement of existing laws, improved mental health services and community-based initiatives aimed at violence prevention. 

Introducing ammo vending machines in America is a step in the wrong direction. As a society, we must prioritize common sense and the well-being of our communities over convenience.

Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist for USA TODAY Opinion.

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