action vs inaction

*Discuss inaction. Is one less guilty of a crime if they let it happen but did not take an active role in it?* *Compare inaction to action---Are there levels of guilt?* If someone lets something happen i do not think that they are as guilty as the perpetrator but they still have their share depending on the situation. lets say someone sees a person with a gun walking around gun but says nothing because they didn't feel like it. in that case they should probably feel more guilt. now lets say a single mother of two witnesses a murder, but knows the perpetrator from around her neighborhood and he sees her and threatens her. The mother doesn't say anything out of fear for her life and her children. now in this case its hard to say the mothers guilty because she could argue she was keeping her family safe.