Don’t Blame the Tool, Blame the Intent

Every time there’s an act of violence, the conversation veers toward the object used, not the individual who used it. The blame lands on machetes, knives, guns, blunt instruments, even vehicles. The assumption is that if we can just restrict the tool, the behaviour disappears. That assumption is not only wrong, it’s dangerously naive.

Criminals don’t need policy loopholes. They need motive, opportunity, and low risk of consequence. And when you remove one method, they find another. That’s not hypothetical, it’s historical. Across continents and centuries, violent offenders have adapted to every ban, every regulation, and every attempt at disarmament. Meanwhile, law-abiding citizens are left defenceless, overregulated, and increasingly reliant on officials, public servants, and institutions that can't respond in time.

Intent, not the instrument, drives violence. A kitchen knife can be used to prepare food or to take a life. A firearm can protect a family or terrorise a street. The distinction lies not in the object, but in the mindset of the user. Failing to recognise this leads to policies that punish preparedness while ignoring pathology. Australia in terms of national defence, and its due to bad policy in practice.

Profilers and behavioural scientists have long understood this. Most violent offenders exhibit known traits before they ever strike, impulsivity, lack of empathy, thrill-seeking, aggression, and often, a history of escalating infractions. Yet instead of identifying and isolating these individuals, policymakers pass sweeping bans on inanimate objects, hoping symbolism will somehow replace strategy.

The numbers back this up. In jurisdictions with heavy weapon restrictions but weak enforcement, violence doesn’t drop, it shifts. Stabbings, beatings, acid attacks, and vehicle assaults spike where guns are tightly controlled but criminal behaviour goes unchecked. This isn't a statistical anomaly, it's the expected result of confusing tools with causes.

From a security consultant’s perspective, effective policy focuses on threat actors, not props. You don’t secure a venue by banning every possible object, you secure it by identifying and intercepting those with hostile intent. Risk isn't managed by assuming every tool is dangerous. It's managed by knowing who is likely to misuse it.

Yet modern politics has become allergic to judgement. We’re told it's wrong to discriminate between the responsible and the reckless. So instead of isolating threats, we infantilize everyone. Instead of empowering the capable, we disarm the decent.

The moral inversion here is staggering. A single mother who carries pepper spray can be fined, and potentially face jail, while a repeat offender with a machete is released on bail, and can go on to kill a grocer. A farmer who stores a rifle for pest control is scrutinized, while known gang affiliates who come in from lawless communities are left untouched due to "community sensitivities."

This isn’t just incompetence, it’s cowardice dressed as compassion.

A sane weapons policy starts by restoring moral clarity. If someone arms themselves for protection, that is not a threat, it’s prudence. If someone arms themselves with violent intent, no tool ban will stop them, only consequence will.

We don’t build safer societies by stripping tools from the innocent. We do it by confronting the guilty, before they strike.

Because the problem was never the tool.

It’s always been the hand that wields it.

And what is the point of giving weapons to the taxpayer funded who seldom turn up in the first place.

From the author.

The opinions and statements are those of Sam Wilks and do not necessarily represent whom Sam Consults or contracts to. Sam Wilks is a skilled and experienced Security and Risk Consultant with 3 decades of expertise in the fields of Real estate, Security, and the hospitality/gaming industry. Sam has trained over 1,000 entry level security personnel, taught defensive tactics, weapons training and handcuffs to policing personnel and the public. His knowledge and practical experience have made him a valuable asset to many organisations looking to enhance their security measures and provide a safe and secure environment for their clients and staff.