[Slate]School Violence, Bullying, Fraud... A Hellish Life: Will You Pull the Trigger in Your Heart?

Firearms as an Outlet for the Suppressed Emotions of the Marginalized
Debate Over Protection of Individual Property and Life vs. Maintenance of Social Order
No Clear Answer on Gun Regulation... The Judgment Is Left to the Audience

The Netflix series "Trigger" is a disaster thriller centered around firearms. In South Korea, a country known for its strict gun control, a series of mysterious guns and bullets are delivered, leading to a chain of shooting incidents. A significant number of the perpetrators are socially disadvantaged individuals. As they unleash their suppressed emotions, they plunge society as a whole into fear and anxiety.

Netflix series 'Trigger' still cuts

Underlying the story is the issue of gun violence in the United States. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), civilians in the U.S. possess approximately 270 million firearms, and crimes related to these weapons persist due to the ease of ownership. Shootings occur not only at universities but also at middle and high schools, and even elementary schools. Each year, about 30,000 people die in gun-related incidents, and the number of injured exceeds 100,000. This means that every 20 seconds, someone is either killed or injured by a firearm.

Despite the high number of incidents, it remains easy to purchase and own firearms in the United States. Guns are often displayed openly in some large supermarkets, and at the age of 18, one can buy a hunting rifle, while at 21, a handgun can be purchased after a simple background check. It is estimated that around 40% of all transactions involve illegal distribution, with most of these firearms ending up in the hands of groups legally prohibited from owning guns, such as teenagers or criminal organizations. "Trigger" directly reflects this situation.

Netflix series 'Trigger' still cuts

Michael Moore, a renowned American documentary filmmaker, explored this issue in depth in his 2002 film "Bowling for Columbine." By covering the Columbine High School massacre, he sharply criticized the reality of American society, where firearms are within easy reach, and the underlying structural problems. He particularly pointed out that the laissez-faire mindset, which emphasizes that individuals must take responsibility for their own safety, exacerbates the gun problem.

The core message of "Trigger" aligns with this perspective. The characters who hesitate to pull the trigger are all driven to the edge. A civil service exam candidate is disturbed while studying in a cramped gosiwon, a high school student is relentlessly bullied at school and in daily life, a nurse suffers personal humiliation from senior colleagues under the pretense of skill improvement, and a police station chief sees his entire life collapse due to his only daughter's jeonse fraud. One day, each of them suddenly finds a gun in their hand and comes to believe it is the only means to break through their hellish reality.

Netflix series 'Trigger' still cuts

Through these dangerous premises, "Trigger" seeks the causes of gun incidents and violent crimes not in individuals, but in the social environment. It repeatedly highlights the reality of Korean society, which divides people into winners and losers, emphasizes differences in ability, and forces survival through competition. Despite the emergence of various problems, authoritarian order and norms still seek to judge and discipline the weak, warning that such an atmosphere can lead to extreme violence.

However, the series does not present a clear conclusion regarding gun regulation. It presents both sides of the debate in parallel, leaving the answer to the viewer's judgment. There are two main issues at stake. One is whether individuals have a legitimate right to own firearms to protect their property and lives. The other is whether the government has the right to restrict individual gun ownership in order to maintain social order and prevent crime.

Netflix series 'Trigger' still cuts

Those who support gun ownership regard the right to bear arms as part of natural rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They argue that, in modern society, the threat of crime is so great that people must be able to defend themselves against robbery, sexual assault, and violence. They claim that regulating firearms would only increase the likelihood that law-abiding citizens become victims. On the other hand, advocates of gun regulation point to the tens of thousands of deaths and injuries caused by firearms each year. Since most killings involve guns, they assert that restricting the purchase and ownership of firearms would also lower the crime rate.

The gun debate is most heated in the United States, where the right to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment, making regulation difficult. Changing this would require a constitutional amendment, which is virtually impossible in reality. While it could be amended if a majority of citizens supported it, public opinion remains a significant barrier. According to several surveys, more than 60% of Americans oppose gun ban legislation, indicating that there is still no national consensus on gun regulation.