Applicants for a licence to own a weapon will now face an aptitude test that takes into account a person's tendency to violence and reaction to stress, among other factors.
Age limits have also changed. The general age limit is now 18 years, and handguns will be unavailable to those under 20. 15 year-olds can still get a provisional licence, with which they can use their parents' hunting weapons.
In addition to the higher age minimum age for handgun ownership, a permit applicant is now required to have documentation signed by a police-approved firearms instructor showing that he or she has had at least two years of active training with a weapon.
The new laws were passed by Parliament last autumn.