RICHMOND — An angry Walmart employee in Chesapeake purchased a gun Nov. 22, 2022. Hours later, six of his co-workers were dead.

Only a few months later, a 6-year-old student in Newport News brought his mother’s firearm to school and shot his teacher.

In December, a 2-year-old girl in Hampton died after she accessed a loaded gun and shot herself.

As a legislator in Hampton Roads, Del. Nadarius Clark said it was devastating to hear those stories — as well as the steady stream of other less publicized deaths and injuries from gun violence and accidents.

“It’s heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time,” Clark, D-Suffolk, said in an interview. “These are people’s sons and daughters, children, nieces and nephews. These families will continue to be impacted for the rest of their lifetimes.”

Clark is among several Democrats this year carrying gun safety legislation in Virginia’s General Assembly, some prompted by tragedies in Hampton Roads.

Several bills have passed both the House and Senate, most only with backing from Democrats. But a few have earned some Republican support. Many of the bills are now poised to head to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin as the legislative session winds down this week. The governor hasn’t shown enthusiasm toward the bills — but it’s possible Democrats could use gun safety as a bargaining chip in state budget negotiations.

When asked for comment, Youngkin spokesperson Christian Martinez said Virginia already has tough gun laws.

Democrats enacted several new gun laws, including red flag laws and universal background checks, when they held the statehouse and executive mansion in 2020.

“Governor Youngkin continues to pursue policies to hold criminals that commit crimes with guns accountable by strengthening penalties to effectively keep criminals off the streets,” Martinez wrote in an email.

Several such bills sponsored by Republicans, including Sen. Danny Diggs and Del. Chris Obenshain, to increase penalties have not progressed in the Democrat-held legislature this year.

Here’s an update on some of the gun-related bills that have advanced:

Waiting period, training class

A bill from Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake, is intended to prevent impulsive violence or suicide by enacting a five-day waiting period for gun purchases.

During a House subcommittee hearing last month, Hayes said he introduced the bill on behalf of family members of the victims of the Chesapeake Walmart shooting.

“An employee ran out, purchased a firearm and under duress ran into the workplace allegedly and killed several of his co-workers,” he said. “The family members thought it prudent that the commonwealth needed a waiting period.”

Melanie Cornelisse, who supported the legislation, said her son went to school with one of the victims.

“He was 16 years old and he was working in the Walmart that day,” she said. “It has been an enormous tragedy and (left a) hole in our community.”

The National Rifle Association and Virginia Citizens Defense League, both gun rights advocacy groups, testified against the bill.

“This will do severe damage to gun shows,” said Philip Van Cleave, president of the defense league. “You’ll buy the gun at the gun show and now five days, the show is over, so now you’ve got to drive to wherever it is — You’ve got to make two trips and it could be a ways drive to get to the gun dealer.”

The bill passed both chambers with party line votes.

Another bill from Del. Angelia Williams Graves, D-Norfolk, is intended to prevent gun accidents by requiring those purchasing a firearm to first complete a gun safety class. It passed the Senate on a party-line vote. But it now appears to be in a House conference committee, which can be formed to meld similar legislation together, after amendments were rejected.