The following definitions apply to this Article:

(1)        Carry a concealed handgun. – The term includes possession of a concealed handgun.

(1a)      Deployed or deployment. – Any military duty that removes a military permittee from the permittee’s county of residence during which time the permittee’s permit expires or will expire.

(2)        Handgun. – A firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand.

(2a)      Military permittee. – A person who holds a permit who is also a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States, the North Carolina Army National Guard, or the North Carolina Air National Guard.

(3)        Permit. – A concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(3a)      Proof of deployment. – A copy of the military permittee’s deployment orders or other written notification from the permittee’s command indicating the start and end date of deployment and that orders the permittee to travel outside the permittee’s county of residence.

(4)        Qualified former sworn law enforcement officer. – An individual who retired from service as a law enforcement officer with a local, State, campus police, or company police agency in North Carolina, other than for reasons of mental disability, who has been retired as a sworn law enforcement officer two years or less from the date of the permit application, and who satisfies all of the following:

a.         Immediately before retirement, the individual was a qualified law enforcement officer with a local, State, or company police agency in North Carolina.

b.         The individual has a nonforfeitable right to benefits under the retirement plan of the local, State, or company police agency as a law enforcement officer; or has 20 or more aggregate years of law enforcement service and has retired from a company police agency that does not have a retirement plan; or has 20 or more aggregate years of part-time or auxiliary law enforcement service.

c.         The individual is not prohibited by State or federal law from receiving a firearm.

(4a)      Qualified retired correctional officer. – An individual who retired from service as a State correctional officer, other than for reasons of mental disability, who has been retired as a correctional officer two years or less from the date of the permit application and who meets all of the following criteria:

a.         Immediately before retirement, the individual met firearms training standards of the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction and was authorized by the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction to carry a handgun in the course of assigned duties.

b.         The individual retired in good standing and was never a subject of a disciplinary action by the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction that would have prevented the individual from carrying a handgun.

c.         The individual has a vested right to benefits under the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System of North Carolina established under Article 1 of Chapter 135 of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

d.         The individual is not prohibited by State or federal law from receiving a firearm.

(4b)      Qualified retired law enforcement officer. – An individual who meets the definition of “qualified retired law enforcement officer” contained in section 926C of Title 18 of the United States Code.

(4c)      Qualified retired probation or parole certified officer. – An individual who retired from service as a State probation or parole certified officer, other than for reasons of mental disability, who has been retired as a probation or parole certified officer two years or less from the date of the permit application and who meets all of the following criteria:

a.         Immediately before retirement, the individual met firearms training standards of the Division of Community Supervision and Reentry of the Department of Adult Correction and was authorized by the Division of Community Supervision and Reentry of the Department of Adult Correction to carry a handgun in the course of duty.

b.         The individual retired in good standing and was never a subject of a disciplinary action by the Division of Community Supervision and Reentry of the Department of Adult Correction that would have prevented the individual from carrying a handgun.

c.         The individual has a vested right to benefits under the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System of North Carolina established under Article 1 of Chapter 135 of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

d.         The individual is not prohibited by State or federal law from receiving a firearm.

(5)        Qualified sworn law enforcement officer. – A law enforcement officer employed by a local, State, campus police, or company police agency in North Carolina who satisfies all of the following:

a.         The individual is authorized by the agency to carry a handgun in the course of duty.

b.         The individual is not the subject of a disciplinary action by the agency that prevents the carrying of a handgun.

c.         The individual meets the requirements established by the agency regarding handguns. ?(1995, c. 398, s. 1; 1997-274, s. 2; 1997-441, ss. 2, 3; 2005-231, ss. 4, 5; 2005-232, s. 1; 2007-427, s. 1; 2009-307, s. 2; 2010-104, s. 1; 2011-145, s. 19.1(h); 2011-183, s. 15; 2013-369, s. 24; 2014-119, s. 7(a); 2017-186, s. 2(jj), 3(a); 2021-180, s. 19C.9(kk).)