Final answer:
Newman's five factors are necessary but not sufficient conditions for rampage school shootings; they do not ensure such events will occur. The debate on firearms accessibility underscores differing views on the causes of shootings, suggesting that while pertinent, they do not solely precipitate these events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Newman advances a constellation of five factors that produce necessary but not sufficient conditions for the occurrence of a rampage school shooting. The authors argue that this is not a certain prediction because the occurrence of such tragic events cannot be reduced to a simple formula. Even when all factors are present, a school shooting may not occur, indicating that while these conditions are needed for the potential of a shooting, they do not guarantee one will happen.
The ongoing debate on firearm accessibility highlights different perspectives regarding the causes of mass shootings. While some instances such as the Columbine and Sandy Hook tragedies emphasize the problem of mental health issues combined with access to guns, it is also argued that access to firearms is not the sole contributor to such events. Thus, stating the Newman's factors are necessary but not sufficient, points out that other unidentified or unpredictable elements might be involved in the actualization of a shooting.