Slain Meat Inspector’s Family Pleads for Stricter Gun Control

The family of slain meat inspector Tom Quadros on Saturday asked for gun control and encouraged acceptance of mental health care.

First, family members said in a written statement, they deplore the ready availability of handguns, especially to people with a history of violence.

“If the Columbines and San Leandros are ever going to mean more than a short-lived news story,” the family said, “people must send a message louder than the one bought and paid for by the [National Rifle Assn.].

“Second, until society accepts that stress in life today is greater than ever before and will only lead to more such incidents, these tragedies will continue. Only a society that accepts psychological treatment on the same footing as physical treatment can reduce the number of these events.

“Stress is not an excuse, but rather a cry for help.”

Federal inspectors Quadros, 52, and Jeannie Hillery, 56, and state inspector Bill Shaline, 57, were killed Wednesday after the owner of the Santos Linguisa Factory in San Leandro allegedly went on a rampage.

Quadros’ son Chris, 22, criticized San Leandro police for not responding to his father’s call for help about 18 minutes before the shooting started.

“They said it wasn’t a priority,” Chris Quadros said. “I said, ‘A federal officer requesting assistance is not a priority?’ I’m unbelievably upset with them, but I don’t know what can be done about it.”

Factory owner Stuart Alexander also called police for help, saying the inspectors were trespassing on his property.

Police have said neither caller indicated that violence was about to break out.

Alexander, 39, was charged Friday with two federal counts of murder. His arraignment in state court on charges of murder with special circumstances and attempted murder was delayed until July 11 to give prosecutors time to decide where he will be tried first.