Hypothesis
It is hypothesized that some of the guns that are used in gun violence are acquired legally after which they find themselves in the hands of criminals, gangsters, and unruly youngsters. Similarly, such guns are acquired from legal manufacturers, distributors, and retailers through the violation of state and federal laws.

The hypothesis is testable since it can be supported with statistical data that have been collected in previous research. According to Hieler (2013), 64 percent of Americans, when being asked how and where they obtained their guns confirmed having bought them from gun stores. They also confirmed that the transfer of the weapons was documented as per the requirements of the federal laws. On the contrary, 14 percent confessed that although a background check was conducted when acquiring their weapons; the transfer was not documented as per the requirements of the federal laws but in some other ways. Thirdly, 22 percent confirmed to having acquired their guns from the stores without the conducting of a background check (Hieler, 2013).

The hypothesis is also empirical as it is based on factual evidence. For instance, a recent Las Vegas mass shooting that led to the injury of hundreds of people and consequently the death of dozens of innocent people raised a question of how such people acquire the guns that they use in facilitating their conspiracies. According to Hieler (2013), a large number of gun owners actually claim to have acquired their guns in legal ways and in documented transactions.

Although the discussed methods of acquiring guns do not always apply to criminals, who are thought to mostly get them illegally, there is a possibility that they get them through either of the ways. A state prisons national survey discovered that 10 percent of inmates aged between 18 and 40 who were found with a gun during their arrest confirmed having gotten the guns from a gun store, while the other 90 percent got them through different ways such as from another gang member or as a gift (Hieler, 2013).

Variables
The study also hypothesizes that where there are stringent firearms and gun regulations, the rate of violence and gun crime will decrease. The dependent variable is that strict gun control measures decrease the crime rate. On the other hand, the independent variable in this research is that less stringent gun control regulations increase the rate of crimes.

The control variable for this research is that the gun control measures do not influence the acquiring of weapons by the criminals. The control variable is supported by the fact that the criminals get the weapons from a supply chain where the weapons are initially bought legally and as per the requirements of state and federal laws. According to Cook and Pollack (2017), typically, criminal often get their guns from a supply chain where the retailers first buy the guns from the dealers who get them from the manufacturers and later sell them to criminals through underhand methods. To begin with, the retailers buy the weapons through legal means where there are proper record keeping, background check, and the documentation done by the requirements of the state and federal laws.

Notwithstanding, although it is not always the case, some retailers, through scofflaw dealings, proceed to sell the guns illegally for commercial gains (Cook & Pollack, 2017). Therefore, some guns that get into the hands of criminals are acquired through several transactions. In such a situation, the weapons, just like other products with large legal markets, get diverted to illegal commerce.

Measuring Variables
Basically, in the domain of acquisition of guns to criminals, it is probable that there are big operators who facilitate the process with the help of underground brokers and typical traffickers. With this in mind, I will, therefore, use both the qualitative and the quantitative methods to measure my variables. With the quantitative method, I will apply the use of ratios and intervals of the criminals who have been documented to have acquired the guns through the different methods. Most important I will analyze the data of those who have been found to have acquired the weapons legally and those who have acquired them legally. For instance, every year, the crimes committed using a gun average to about 500000. Assuming that every criminal uses his or her gun only twice to facilitate a violent crime, and then the probable number of transaction per year is 250000 (Cook & Pollack, 2017). Making a further assumption that a criminal uses the gun more than twice, then the number of transactions will be fewer.

Additionally, I will use the qualitative method to measure my variables. I will apply the ordinary level scale in the use of the qualitative study. Since this study focuses on the life-cycle of crime firearms, it would be necessary to collect people’s views and opinion on how criminals acquire their guns. Secondly, I will measure the statistical data gathered in the measurement of the variables.

Conclusion
Conclusively, it is easy to note that criminals do not only acquire their guns through illegal means but through different supply chains where the guns are acquired legally but later sold illegally. This research paper, therefore, seeks to address how the criminals access their weapons and what would happen if gun control laws are made more stringent. The research is supported by different variables which are both independent and dependent and also a control variable.