At least 28 people were shot by police last year for carrying toy guns assumed to be authentic. Finally, as of two months ago, Apple can proudly say that it will no longer be a part of this tragic statistic.

On September 13, Apple finally listened to the soft, practically nonexistent, pleas of its customers and removed the threatening pistol emoji in the much-anticipated iOS 10 update.

The emoji has since been replaced with a fluorescent green squirt gun, a playful symbol that more appropriately corresponds with the bomb, knife and cigarette emojis displayed alongside it.

Apple has yet to submit a formal statement on the specific reason for its transition, but it’s safe to say that the new squirt gun emoji is a response to police shootings presumably caused by Apple’s former pistol emoji.

Miami-Dade union boss John Rivera understands firsthand how the recently removed emoji can confuse officers.

“The movement of the individual looked like he was getting ready to discharge a firearm,” Rivera said, describing a police shooting he indirectly witnessed a few months ago.

Because of the pistol emoji’s realistic design, it wouldn’t be farfetched for an officer to see it on someone’s iPhone or iPad and immediately open fire for fear that a real gun is present.

“Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes,” Cofounder of Apple Steve Jobs said, “It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.”

Ultimately, Apple’s improved innovation seems to be moving in a positive direction.

Since Apple’s removal of the pistol emoji, no further police shootings have been reported because of fake weaponry and only 35 mass shootings have occurred in the United States.

Hopefully, Apple’s decision sets an example for other companies as it paves the way towards freedom one censorship at a time.