News coming out of Germany regarding to the new tack in exporting firearms by the renowned German firearms manufacturer, Heckler & Koch, has a lot industry circles and firearms communities buzzing. We do not know if this change of heart means that the company has developed a conscience, or is more just falling in line with the policies of the German government.

In a report in the DW.com (Deutsche Welle), an unnamed employee of the company has told the German Press Agency or DPA, that there will be a change in direction to how the company will sell firearms:

"We only want to deliver to solid countries - that means unequivocally democratic, definitely not corrupt, and in NATO or close to NATO," the employee, described as a "manager," was quoted as saying. He said such countries would now be considered "green," while others, including Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Turkey (ironically a NATO member), and India were "yellow" and therefore taboo.

The company’s firearms are in the arms of NATO members, police forces around the world, special operations forces, dictatorships, criminals, and even terrorists as these are some of the most sought after in the world. The killing of Osama Bin Laden by SEAL Team Six involved the use of the Heckler & Koch HK416 Assault Rifle.

Furthermore in the DW.com report, the change can also be attributed to a stricter German arms exports policy as well as bad press. Germany sells firearms to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and its main rival for influence in region, Iran, have acquired licenses to locally manufacture the H&K G3 and G36 assault rifles.

Some sectors are skeptical with the news since the source is anonymous and there has been no official announcement from the HQ in Oberndorf. Also, there is no indication if this will cover its U.S. subsidiary, Heckler & Koch Defense USA.  Also, the company has suffered a big drop in revenues with the stricter government policy compounding its already serious financial problems that it had to take a loan and a capital infusion from majority shareholder. However, recent developments saw the company winning big orders such as the French military adopting the HK416 and a big order from Lithuania for G36 rifles.

If indeed it is true, will the new policy be able to cover lost revenues by the company? Some of the biggest clients of the Heckler & Koch deemed corrupt or undemocratic are countries with large militaries or have big defense budgets. That remains to be seen as for now since the company will have to officially announce the news.

Will this also include the sales of licensed airsoft guns to undemocratic or corrupt countries through Umarex? That will be doubtful since airsoft guns cannot be used to enforce authoritarian rule and or ineffective for use in corrupt criminal activities.