Rifle emoji removed from Unicode 9.0

Jun 20, 2016 - 12:10
Jun 20, 2016 - 14:00
 0  1
Rifle emoji removed from Unicode 9.0
Rifle emoji removed from Unicode 9.0

With the all new Unicode 9.0 due to be released in a few days, smartphone users all over the world are getting excited to see the myriad new ideograms and smileys. The new upgrade will include characters for avocado, bacon, selfie, face palm and pregnant to name a few. However, following the worst mass shooting incident in US history which took the lives of 49 people at an Orlando nightclub, the character of a rifle has been removed from the lineup.

Soon after the announcement in April, a British gun control group told the BBC: 'It would be familiarizing and popularizing the image of a weapon which is not a good idea”.

In the wake of all this, Apple has reportedly asked the Unicode consortium to completely scrap the emoji. Unicode President Mark Davis later confirmed the decision, but has not given any reasons why.

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Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher is a Georgia-based freelance journalist covering local news, community developments, and regional issues that matter most to residents across the state. Writing for Georgianewsday.com since 2016, Mike has built a reputation for clear, balanced reporting and a strong connection to the communities he serves. His work spans city council decisions, school board updates, small business features, public safety reports, and statewide policy changes. In addition to local coverage, Mike occasionally reports on state politics and national headlines, offering readers context on how broader decisions impact Georgia communities. Known for his steady, fact-driven approach, Mike prioritizes accuracy, fairness, and accessibility in every story. Whether covering a town hall meeting or breaking political developments, he aims to inform readers with clarity and integrity. Outside the newsroom, Mike remains actively engaged in Georgia’s civic landscape, always seeking the next story that shapes the state’s future.