A handgun advertisement located along Interstate 880 in Oakland has been taken down after it was found to lack a required city permit, igniting considerable backlash in a region that struggles with gun violence. The billboard, which showcased the Mete MC9 handgun from Turkish manufacturer Canik, had been installed near Fifth Avenue and Embarcadero, raising alarms due to the city’s ordinance that mandates firearms advertising permits from the Oakland Police Department.
This removal comes as Oakland grapples with increasing gun-related incidents, reporting a 26% rise in homicides this year compared to 2024. The advertisement’s presence sparked heated discussions on social media, highlighting public concerns about gun control and the implications of commercializing firearms in an urban environment plagued by violence. Canik’s Mete MC9 was recently added to California’s approved handgun roster, reflecting ongoing tensions surrounding firearm regulation in the state.
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