One time when I was depositing money at the bank, some robbers came in and held us at gun point. It is the scariest situation of my life.
were you held hostage?
I was, they wouldn't let anyone go until the bank teller gave them money.
well you know that criminals abduct in order to compel another person to do what they want in order to get what ever it is they want
They do, I just didn't want to be what they abducted. It was not fun at all. 
the word "hostage" derives from French "ostage" which is the state of being an "obses"
I don't think I will ever recover from that fear. 
there is a long history of political and military hostage use that indicates that politcal authorities or genearls would legally agree to hand over one or several hostages as a guarantee of good faith
I don't think these hostages were ready to do anything in good faith. They wanted money and nothing else.
or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war."
A person who seizes one or more hostages is known as a hostage-taker; if the hostages are present voluntarily, then the receiver is known as a host.
Etymology.
The English word "hostage" derives from French "ostage", modern "otage", from Late Latin "obsidaticum" (Medieval Latin "ostaticum, ostagium"), the state of being an "obses" (plural "obsides"), "hostage
him: "Young man, you may as well know my business at once. I want the money of this bank or I will blow your brains out." Eaton told him to go ahead and a struggle ensued. The two compromised and Eaton, who was still in handcuffs, allowed the man to escape in exchange for his life. Eaton ran around Corning until he eventually found Patterson. By then, of course, the would-be robber escaped. Patterson offered a $100 reward for the assailant's arrest