I'm teaching them to defend themselves.
“But the police have seen budget cuts reduce the force from 150 to about 100 officers. They are looking for help.”
The city should fund a training program (that requires a back ground check) for any person living in that town. The training would be free and if you pass the b/g check, you get a permit to carry a concealed weapon and will be encouraged to do so. Once enough “good” guys are armed, the “bad” guys will get the message. And yes, it will be bloody and get radically worse before it gets better. Of course, that is going to happen anyway.