From a purely objective political standpoint: Trump may have just as much to lose by allowing the Democrats to totally hijack the mantle of safety, leaving room for THEM to take even MORE extreme measures...I hate putting things this way, but imagine if some sort of tragedy as happened in El Paso/Dayton took place the week of the election. Swing voters would take note and either stay home or vote based on emotion and fear of their lives alone.
Sorry but that’s how these things work.
No question many people make decisions with their emotions.