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A black gun with a red slash through it.

It is a sign of the times, as well as a sign that is sure to become ubiquitous.

School officials want the public to know that in compliance with state law (House Bill 0183), schools, churches, government agencies and liquor stores statewide will be posting 4-by-6-inch stickers reminding the public, particularly those with a concealed-carry license, that there are limits on where a gun can be carried.

While schools didn’t allow guns even before the concealed-carry law was passed, they still are required to display the reminder. Some officials are questioning the mandate, and some find the sticker image disturbing.

Several Southland schools already have the stickers posted at entryways, including Reavis High School in Burbank, Incarnation School in Palos Heights, all four Lincoln-Way high schools, schools in North Palos School District 117, schools across Oak Lawn and Hometown, plus Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, Richards High School in Oak Lawn and Shepard High School in Palos Heights.

Others expect to have them visible within the next few weeks.

While complying with state law isn’t a point of contention, some school administrators find the sticker’s image to be a bit alarming.

“One of my biggest concerns as a principal is safety and security,” Tinley Park High School Principal Theresa Nolan said. “It is bothersome to have to post a sticker of a gun that says, ‘Hey, folks, leave your guns at home.’ ”

Nolan said she is not opposed to posting it, she’s just worried that not enough people are aware of what it means and could misinterpret the new signage.

“I think the general public will be alarmed by it and wonder if people have been allowed to bring guns to school in the past,” she said. In her 22 years with Bremen Community High School District 228, she said, “I have no knowledge of guns ever being in this building.”

Nolan, and others, take issue with the sticker’s design.

“I would have appreciated something more subtle, yet still recognizable — a logo, perhaps, not a gun,” she said.

“You can’t look at this (sticker) and not think about Sandy Hook,” she said