Apple switches gun emoji to water pistol

<p>A lot of iMessages are going to look notably less threatening soon.</p><p>Apple announced Monday it is replacing its controversial gun emoji with this — <a href="http://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/08/apple-adds-more-gender-diverse-emoji-in-ios-10.html" target="_blank">an orange-and-green squirt gun.</a></p><p>The swap will be made when iOS 10 is released. But other than that, we don't know much about Apple's decision to swap out the gun.</p><p>The announcement <a href="http://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/08/apple-adds-more-gender-diverse-emoji-in-ios-10.html" target="_blank">didn't come with an explanation.</a> The new emoji is simply listed among several other emoticons that will also be released with iOS 10, including a rainbow flag and female athletes and professionals.</p><p>But the move comes almost exactly a year after anti-gun group New Yorkers Against Gun Violence started the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbXAXYYZJxM" target="_blank">#DisarmTheiPhone campaign</a> in an effort to convince Apple to remove the gun emoji.</p><p>Not long after the emoji announcement, <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/01/technology/apple-pistol-emoji/index.html" target="_blank">the group's executive director told CNN,</a> "Apple has stood up to the bullying tactics of the NRA and gun industry by showing that there are many more life-affirming ways to express oneself than with a gun."</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/apple-got-the-rifle-emoji-banned-from-keyboards/">Apple Got The Rifle Emoji Banned From Keyboards</a></b></p><p>The gun emoji and other weapon emoticons have landed several people in hot water.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2016/02/27/a-12-year-old-girl-is-facing-criminal-charges-for-using-emoji-shes-not-alone/" target="_blank">middle schooler was charged</a> after allegedly posting an Instagram message with a gun, knife and bomb emoji to threaten her school.</p><p>And <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/brooklyn-teen-busted-threatening-cops-facebook-article-1.2089216" target="_blank">one teen was arrested</a> for posting a police emoji with pistol emoticons pointing at its head.</p><p>The updated iOS featuring the squirt gun emoji is expected to make its debut this fall. </p><p><i>This video includes </i><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSTEB8cdQwo" target="_blank">clips</a></i><i> and </i><i><a href="http://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/08/apple-adds-more-gender-diverse-emoji-in-ios-10.html" target="_blank">images</a></i><i> from Apple. Music provided courtesy of APM Music.</i></p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/the-latest-problem-in-rio-no-pok-mon-go/">The Latest Problem In Rio? No 'Pokémon Go'</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/instagram-will-soon-allow-users-to-filter-out-hateful-comments/">Instagram Will Soon Allow Users To Filter Out Hateful Comments</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/where-does-the-internet-come-from/">Where Does The Internet Come From?</a></li></ul>