Coroner questions gun licence system that relies on applicant’s honesty about mental health

Just days after his 20th birthday, Robbie Lawrence unlocked his double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun from his father’s gun safe, drove to a remote bush track in regional Victoria, and killed himself.

Julie Lawrence with her son Robbie, who suffered numerous mental health disorders but was still able to buy a gun.

Just days after his 20th birthday, Robbie Lawrence unlocked his double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun from his father’s gun safe, drove to a remote bush track in regional Victoria, and killed himself.

With the help of his dad ­Robert, Robbie had applied for a junior firearm licence in 2013, when he was 16, and the pair went shooting together at the local range.

When he applied to Victoria Police’s Licensing and Regulation Division for the permit, and the adult Category A & B firearm licence in September 2014, Robbie declared he had no medical conditions – including psychiatric, depression, stress or emotional problems – that might affect his suitability to own a gun.

But according to an investigation by Victorian coroner Paresa Antoniadis Spanos – the findings of which were published in 2020 but have been unreported until now – the truth was much more complicated than that.

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His mum Julie Lawrence, who he lived with in Waurn Ponds after his parents’ separation in 2005, told Ms Spanos that Robbie had a medical history of congenital blindness in his right eye, ­attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, Tourette’s syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, and borderline Asperger’s syndrome.

Robbie Lawrence, his mother Julie and older sister Stephanie.

Most concerningly, in March 2015, Robbie started talking about suicide, after being bullied and abused at work as a mechanic’s apprentice. He made a noose, though didn’t use it.

Ms Lawrence complained to the state’s apprenticeship board, and had Robbie reviewed by a psychiatrist called Dr Eseta Akers on January 19, 2016.

He told Dr Akers he was obsessed with war, guns, lighters, and bayonets, and had unresolved issues with his father.

“Robbie threatened to hurt himself and others when relationships became difficult and threatened to use his gun on himself,” the coronial findings said. “However, when Robbie felt secure he denied having any such intent.”

Dr Akers found Robbie had a “chronic moderate risk of harm to himself and others in the context of emotional dysregulation and impulsivity”, and wrote in her ­report dated January 20, 2016, that Robbie’s access to guns was “concerning”.

Robbie’s mother, who had never been comfortable with him having a gun licence, was very worried about him.

Robbie was referred to other mental health care treatment, and Dr Akers discussed Robbie’s access to firearms with the clinical director of the Barwon Health Jigsaw Youth Mental Health ­service. The two doctors decided that the “risks of intervening outweighed other potential risks, and the recommendation was to not make a notification to Victoria Police at that time,” but the decision would be reviewed if Robbie’s health deteriorated.

If the police’s weapons division is warned a gun-owner is ­suicidal, the person’s licence is ­urgently suspended, and police make sure they don’t have access to firearms.

In August 2016, Robbie and his girlfriend broke up after she moved interstate. He was worried about money, lost confidence, and seemed to struggle with everyday life.

And in October of that year, he told his mother he was going to the firing range with his dad. Mr Lawrence was busy and told Robbie where he could find the spare keys to his house and the gun safe. Neither of Robbie’s parents, nor his older sister Stephanie, saw him again.

Ms Lawrence reported him missing just before midnight on October 18, 2016. He was found shot dead near his red Holden sedan on October 20.

Julie Lawrence's tribute to her son Robbie, who took his own life on 19 October 2016, just days after his 20th birthday.

Robbie’s mother lobbied for years for a coroner to investigate the case, concerned about the state’s weapons licensing system and questioning how someone with a mental illness was able to legally obtain a gun licence.

After reviewing Robbie’s death, Ms Spanos found the system did not proactively assess someone’s suitability to own a gun, and relied instead on an ­applicant’s honesty.

“The current paradigm for the granting of firearms licences relies too heavily on the applicant being entirely honest and disclosing information against their own interest when they apply for a firearms licence,” she said.

Anyone experiencing a crisis can call the below helplines for support and advice: Lifeline 13 11 14 | Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 | Beyond Blue 1300 224 636