Heckler & Koch: "Compulsory military service is a guarantee of safety

Fragile peace in Europe is changing people's view of the arms industry. Jens Bodo Koch, head of Heckler & Koch, is experiencing the change up close. Europe owes it to the soldiers to equip them in the best possible way, he says. In military service, the government makes a mistake.

Jens Bodo Koch, head of the small arms supplier Heckler & Koch, believes the next federal government's military service plans are wrong. "I think this is a mistake. Conscription not only contributes to the Bundeswehr's social anchoring, but also guarantees security," Koch told "Welt am Sonntag." The CDU/CSU and SPD had spoken out against conscription in the coalition agreement, instead favoring voluntary service. Koch also recognizes that the ar…