Final answer:
The student’s question lacks specific data to provide a quantitative answer, but it can be addressed by examining trends in gun violence. School shootings, while devastating, are a relatively small part of overall gun homicides, and public perception often overestimates their frequency due to media coverage. The debate on gun access and control continues, with opinions divided on the relationship between gun availability and mass shootings.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the number of individuals who have died in school shootings to those who have perished in less reported homicides since the Columbine tragedy in 1999, the data seems incomplete in the student's question. However, broader trends in gun violence suggest that while school shootings are particularly shocking and get considerable media attention, they represent a small fraction of overall gun-related homicides. Looking at the larger picture of gun violence, studies such as the one conducted by Pew Research in 2013 have shown that the gun homicide rate had actually declined significantly since its peak in 1993, despite the perception of an increase due to high-profile mass shootings. Public perception is often influenced by the media's focus on the most dramatic and tragic events, leading to an overestimation of the frequency of such incidents in comparison to other forms of homicide.
Moreover, when discussing the issue of access to guns and its relation to mass shootings, there's considerable debate. Proponents of stricter gun control argue that there is a clear connection between the availability of firearms and the occurrence of mass shootings. Others argue that the problem is more complex, and cite factors such as mental health as the main catalysts for such violence. For instance, the shootings at Sandy Hook elementary school were carried out by an individual with serious mental health issues who had access to guns.