GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1997 SESSION

S.L. 1997-274
HOUSE BILL 433

AN ACT TO EXEMPT A SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR A RETIRED SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM THE TRAINING REQUIRED TO QUALIFY FOR A CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMIT IF THE OFFICER APPLIES FOR A PERMIT WITHIN TWO YEARS OF RETIREMENT.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14-415.12A.  Firearms safety and training course exemption for qualified sworn law enforcement officers.
A person who is a qualified sworn law enforcement officer or a qualified former sworn law enforcement officer is deemed to have satisfied the requirement under G.S. 14-415.12(a)(4) that an applicant successfully complete an approved firearms safety and training course."
Section 2.  G.S. 14-415.10 is amended by adding the following subdivisions:
"(4)	Qualified former sworn law enforcement officer. – An individual who retired from service as a law enforcement officer with a local or State 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 or State agency in North Carolina.
b.	The individual has a nonforfeitable right to benefits under the retirement plan of the agency as a law enforcement officer.
c.	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 or State 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."
Section 3.  G.S. 14-415.14(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The sheriff shall make permit applications readily available at the office of the sheriff or at other public offices in the sheriff's jurisdiction. The permit application shall be in triplicate, in a form to be prescribed by the Administrative Office of the Courts, and shall include the following information with regard to the applicant: name, address, physical description, signature, date of birth, social security number, military status, law enforcement status, and the drivers license number or State identification card number of the applicant if used for identification in applying for the permit."
Section 4.  This act becomes effective December 1, 1997.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 25th day of June, 1997.
s/	Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

s/	Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/	James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor

Approved 4:28 p.m. this 3rd day of July, 1997