You are culpable. Nothing absolves you from responsibility for your own actions, ever.
If someone with a gun approaches you and your friend and demands you tie your friend up, and you do, then you are culpable for what happens to your friend.
We have been lulled into the sense that there are other people around to help us. Children look to their siblings or their parents; adults look to the authorities or to other adults. But when it comes down to the moment, no one will be there when you need help the most.
We all know the world is dangerous. There is no excuse for not learning at least one method by which to defend yourself. By being able to protect yourself, you will become able to protect those around you.
When someone points a gun at your head, you do not have to do what they tell you to. Neither is the only other option dying at their hands. That is what is known as a "false dilemma", an instance in which more options than the ones given exist.
There are only three ways you can be in regards to a subject: for, against, or impartial. If you aren't one of those three ways, it's only because you haven't yet decided. Indecision rarely saves lives.
Every moment you draw breath you incur culpability, even in your instances of non-action. So decide now if you live in fear and inaction, or if you live with the ability to act despite fear. And if you possess the ability to act, cultivate the knowledge of 'how'.
Compulsion by threats (from the Canadian Criminal Code):
17. A person who commits an offence under compulsion by threats of immediate death or bodily harm from a person who is present when the offence is committed is excused for committing the offence if the person believes that the threats will be carried out and if the person is not a party to a conspiracy or association whereby the person is subject to compulsion, but this section does not apply where the offence that is committed is high treason or treason, murder, piracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm, aggravated sexual assault, forcible abduction, hostage taking, robbery, assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, unlawfully causing bodily harm, arson or an offence under sections 280 to 283 (abduction and detention of young persons).
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 17; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 40.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/C-46/bo-ga:s_3_1-gb:s_34//en
Copyright© 2000 - Sherrie Silman - All Rights Reserved