A. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to law-enforcement officers, authorized security personnel, or military personnel, or fire marshals who have police powers when such individuals are authorized to carry a firearm in accordance with their duties and when such individuals are carrying the firearm within that authority. The provisions of this chapter also do not apply to any member of a cadet corps who is recognized by a public institution of higher education while such member is participating in an official ceremonial event for the Commonwealth.

B. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:

1. Any State Police officer who is off duty;

2. Any retired State Police officer who has participated in annual firearms training and has qualified to the standards required of active law-enforcement officers in the Commonwealth, in accordance with § 18.2-308.016 C of the Code of Virginia;

3. Any retired law-enforcement officer who has participated in annual firearms training, has qualified pursuant to § 18.2-308.016 C of the Code of Virginia, and is visiting a gun range owned or leased by the Commonwealth;

4. Any of the following employees authorized to carry a firearm while acting in the conduct of such employee's official duties:

a. A bail bondsman as defined in § 9.1-185 of the Code of Virginia;

b. An employee of the Department of Corrections or a state juvenile correctional facility;

c. An employee of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; or

d. An employee of the Department of Wildlife Resources;

5. Any individual carrying a weapon into a courthouse who is exempt under § 18.2-283.1 of the Code of Virginia;

6. Any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education;

7. Any state park; or

8. Any magistrate acting in the conduct of the magistrate's official duties.

A. The exemptions set forth in the Code of Virginia § 18.2-283.2 shall be applied to the provisions of this chapter, mutatis mutandis.