When Detroit photographer and YouTuber, Vuhlandes, set out to film a camera lens review during “blue hour” in a gentrifying neighborhood, he wasn’t expecting danger. But his decision — made at the very last minute — to bring his firearm may have stopped a robbery before it began.
It’s a story that underscores why situational awareness and a willingness to defend yourself remain vital in any American city, and why the Second Amendment is not an abstract political talking point, but a real-world survival tool.
A Gut Feeling and a Parking Lot
Vuhlandes, known for his gritty, authentic street imagery, often featuring guns, and a 200K+ social media following, chose a large abandoned parking lot as his backdrop. While the area has seen redevelopment, it still borders blocks with Detroit’s old realities — boarded-up buildings and the kind of foot traffic that can turn dangerous in a heartbeat.
At first, he debated leaving his gun at home. But the voice in his head — “better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” — won out. He stashed it in his camera bag and set off.
As he worked, a heavily tinted car circled through the lot, left, then returned 30 minutes later. This time it lingered. After it approached the driver rolled down the window just enough to make small talk about Vuhlandes’ camera, while a back door cracked open and someone began to exit on foot.
Recognizing the setup, he drew his firearm, stepped back, and verbally challenged them. The driver called his friend back into the car, and they sped away. No shots fired. Gear intact.
What He Did Right
Detroit firearms trainer Rick Ector has long emphasized core defensive lessons that fit this encounter: maintain strong situational awareness, create distance when possible, and act decisively when an imminent threat appears. These principles, discussed in his teaching and writings, align with how this incident ended without a shot being fired.
Other positives:
- Location awareness: Parking in a spot with only one way in and out allowed him to monitor who approached.
- Preemptive positioning: He noticed the suspicious car before it was close enough to trap him.
- Decisive deterrence: Presenting his firearm and issuing a verbal challenge ended the encounter without a fight.
What Could Be Done Better
The video shows the photographer placing his handgun in a front pants pocket without a holster and keeping it in his vehicle inside a camera bag. Both choices raise safety and tactical concerns.
As Trainer Rick Ector has said in prior firearms safety guidance, a dedicated holster that fully covers the trigger guard is a fundamental layer of protection and control for any carry method, including pocket carry. He also teaches that off-body carry (e.g., in a bag) slows access under stress and can cost precious seconds in a fast-moving encounter.
Michigan Law Notes
Michigan law treats handguns in vehicles differently from open carry on foot.
- A valid Concealed Pistol License (CPL) is required to carry a pistol in a vehicle, whether it’s concealed or openly visible.
- Without a CPL, a pistol must be unloaded, in a closed case, and stored in the trunk or an inaccessible area.
- State law (MCL 750.234e) makes it a misdemeanor to “brandish” a firearm in public, but displaying a firearm in lawful self-defense is not brandishing.
Since the photographer never mentions his CPL status, it’s unknown whether his carry method in the vehicle met Michigan’s licensing requirements. Trainer Rick Ector consistently reminds students that responsible carry includes knowing and following state law, not just marksmanship and gear handling.
Best Practices for Armed Creatives
Ector’s longstanding training points map cleanly here:
- Always be armed and ready — Use a quality, on-body holster that covers the trigger guard; carry in a condition that allows immediate, controlled use.
- Maintain constant 360° awareness — Notice who’s entering your environment, and watch for changes in behavior.
- Control your space — Use positioning and distance to your advantage.
- Don’t rely on compliance — Criminals can harm you even if you give them what they want.
- Know the law — Understand your state’s self-defense statutes and carry regulations.
Second Amendment in Action
Vuhlandes didn’t set out to make a political statement, but his story is a textbook example of why armed self-defense matters. The police weren’t there, and no one else was coming. In that moment, the only person who could protect him… was himself.
For millions of Americans, that reality is why the right to keep and bear arms isn’t negotiable. Sometimes, all it takes to stop a crime is a watchful eye, a firm voice, and the quiet readiness of a law-abiding citizen who refuses to be a victim.
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When I bring my camera with me and I also bring my arm for self defense… period!!! Forget collapsing your tripod just throw everything in your ride… Sir don’t make any excuses their “environment” because I’m also an American who happens to be black myself growing up poor. It’s about choices because these animals meant to use lethal force against you (their choice) by means necessary to take everything from you and leave unalive!!! You do what you have to do to survive which means keeping your arm on a holster AT ALL TIMES!!! Thumbs up on your great situational… Read more »
I observe other people’s situations to help me when I find myself in their situation. Where I live is very different from Detroit, though it is becoming more the same every year. Travel can take you to places that are not in your cultural norm. I am sometimes alone, other times with one or more family, so each situation needs a different approach. When you are alone, acting first gives you the fighting advantage but takes some of your legal support away. Being with family who don’t carry weapons means you have to get them safe and bring your defense… Read more »
It’s funny when I think about it, but I bought my first pistol, a WWI 1911, and my first real camera, a Kodak Retina Reflex 3, from the same WWI veteran in the 1960s. The camera has long since been retired, but the pistol still gets occasional use.
I usually have a camera with me when I’m out of the home, but I ALWAYS wear a holstered firearm. The exceptions; when I’m sleeping, showering, or swimming.
What he did wrong? To start with, even questioning whether or not to take the gun. The man’s heart is in the right place, but he needs some training on equipment and mindset. Second, make a police report, before the other guy does. Leaving the area can be justified as escaping a known danger. Having someone else call 911 and report him for pulling a gun? NOT good.
What did he do wrong? Going in public in a blue run ghetto city.
He’s probably going to jail. People here get arrested for “brandishing” if their CC piece prints and even pulling back your shirt or jacket to show you are armed in order to defuse a situation before it turns violent warrants a brandishing arrest. Basically, unless you pull your gun second – somehow without getting shot while so doing – you’re not justified. He actually pulled it out & pointed it so he’ll be lucky if he doesn’t get done for felonious assault.