TIME Secret Service

Secret Service Finally Adds ‘No Guns’ Sign at White House

white house secret service
Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images

It may seem obvious but

You probably already knew you couldn’t bring a gun into the President’s home, but now there’s also a sign confirming that fact.

The U.S. Secret Service added news signs outside the White House last month warning visitors that guns and other weapons are not permitted. The agency placed the signs to comply with a provision of the 1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Act that requires signage at the entrance of federal facilities to convict someone of illegally bringing weapons, according to a USA Today report.

“The signs were put up literally because we have to by law,” Dave Iacovetti, the deputy assistant director of public affairs for the U.S. Secret Service. “The only way we can search somebody and have those charges stick is have the sign posted.”

The lack of signage hasn’t hindered law enforcement efforts in the past but the Secret Service place the signs following the advice of the capital city’s U.S. Attorney, according to Iacovetti.

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