The Netflix series 'Trigger' is a disaster thriller that revolves around firearms. In South Korea, a country known for its strict gun control, a series of gun-related incidents break out after mysterious guns and bullets are delivered from unknown sources. More than half of the perpetrators are socially disadvantaged individuals. As they release their repressed emotions, they drive society into fear and terror.

At its core, this is an American problem. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), civilians in the United States own approximately 270 million firearms. Because ownership is so unrestricted, violent crimes involving guns are unceasing. Such incidents occur at universities, middle and high schools, and even elementary schools. Each year, about 30,000 people lose their lives to gun-related accidents, and over 100,000 are injured. This means that every 20 seconds, someone is either killed or wounded by a firearm.

Despite numerous incidents and accidents, it is still easy to purchase and own guns in the United States. Firearms are displayed in large retail stores like Kmart. At the age of eighteen, one can buy a rifle, commonly used for hunting. At twenty-one, after a simple background check, one can purchase a handgun. A significant portion of firearms are also purchased illegally through clandestine means, with such transactions estimated to account for about 40% of all gun trades. As depicted in 'Trigger', most of these illegal firearms end up in the hands of teenagers or criminal organizations who cannot legally obtain them.

Netflix series 'Trigger' still cuts

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Renowned American documentary filmmaker Michael Moore highlighted this issue in his 2022 film 'Bowling for Columbine'. He delved deeply into the Columbine High School shooting, criticizing the social atmosphere that allows guns to be easily accessible to anyone who reaches out for them. Furthermore, he condemned the principle of laissez-faire that dominates American society?specifically, the belief that individuals must take responsibility for their own safety?as a factor that encourages gun violence.

This is also the central message 'Trigger' seeks to convey. The characters who hesitate over whether to pull the trigger are all in precarious situations. A civil service exam candidate is constantly disturbed while studying in a cramped goshiwon room; a high school student is bullied and beaten both inside and outside of school; a nurse is subjected to personal humiliation by senior staff under the pretext of improving job performance; a police station chief's only daughter falls victim to a housing scam and takes her own life, leaving him devastated. Each of them sees the gun they have received by chance as the only tool to escape their hellish circumstances.

Netflix Series 'Trigger' Still Cut

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'Trigger' uses a risky premise to argue that the causes of gun incidents and violent crime are rooted more in social environment than in individuals. The series repeatedly points out the reality in which people are forced to compete, distinguishing between winners and losers and ranking individuals by ability. Even though various problems have become openly visible, the social atmosphere that judges and tries to tame the vulnerable according to authoritarian order and rules can lead to extreme violence, the show warns.

However, the series does not draw a clear conclusion regarding the issue of gun control versus gun rights. It depicts a confrontation between two opposing groups and leaves the answer to the audience. There are two main questions posed: First, can the right to own firearms be justified as a means for individuals to protect their property and lives? Second, does the government have the right to regulate individual gun ownership in order to maintain social order and prevent crime?

Netflix Series 'Trigger' Still Cut

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Supporters of gun ownership claim that the right to bear arms is a natural right, like the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They argue that since crime poses a major threat in modern society, individuals must be able to protect themselves from robbery, rape, and assault. They insist that regulating firearms would only increase the likelihood that innocent people will fall victim to criminals. On the other hand, advocates for gun control point to high crime rates and the large number of casualties caused by firearms each year. They argue that since most killings are committed with guns, restricting the purchase and ownership of firearms would naturally lead to a reduction in crime.

This debate is most active in the United States, where the right to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment of the Constitution, making it difficult to impose gun control. Amending the constitutional provision to restrict gun ownership and carrying is virtually impossible. Although it could be changed if the majority of citizens desired it, public opinion remains a significant barrier. According to various surveys, more than 60% of Americans oppose legislation that would ban individual gun ownership. As a result, there is still no national consensus on gun regulation.