The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 10: We’ll All Go Down Together
Conspiracy pg 21: Not an Accomplice
Drakw vignette
Drake, for example, is not an accomplice. Yes, he sold Dr. S. the equipment we needed, but he didn’t do so with any criminal mens rea.
Holden vignette
And Holden could have stopped the crime, but chose not to. He even hoped the crime succeeded. But that’s not enough for accomplice liability.
HOLDEN
I hope they rob them blind!
Generally speaking, you’re not going to be liable for failing to act, or for selling equipment to a criminal. You don’t have a duty to police others.
Perhaps some discussion here? Consider the saying “If you don’t do something, who will?”. There are guards and cameras here, but what of a situation where there are not? At the very least, one is generally considered to have a responsibility to report crime.
You may be right from a moral standpoint, but not from a legal one.
Also, ask your favorite policeman/woman, they generally would rather you only called 911, took video, and stayed out of the way, than trying to be a hero during a robbery. Until someone actually fires a gun, civilians should just keep their heads down.
I don’t think he’s right even from a moral standpoint. Your typical robber doesn’t want to shoot anyone, he’d much rather just take the loot and run. If you start shooting at him though, you greatly increase the chance someone is going to get killed, and there’s no guarantee it will be him.
Always stay out of the way of a robberies and such, most places are insured against theft and would get the money back from the insurance company (I think insurance is a type of gambling really, but one where you bet against yourself, so to say, expecting to crash or get robbed).