If prices of supplies, such as gas, increases. But your premise is based on big city stats. This place has 350 people. Kinda hard to to scam them, don't ya think? Ever lived in a tiny farming town?
If that is not the reason he is so against the sheeple taking matters into their own hands, what is? Public safety? People willing to protect themselves are safer than people who aren' t willing to do so. You and I know that. That sheriff probably does, too, even if he would never admit it.