Any district attorney, legal assistant to a district attorney or criminal investigator employed by a district attorney who retires under the Public Employees' Retirement System for superannuation or for reason of disability shall be allowed to retain, as his personal property, one (1) sidearm which was issued under authority of Section 97-37-7. The replacement cost of the sidearm shall come from funds appropriated to the district attorney other than those funds appropriated from State General Funds.