Should We Be Concerned About Apes Mastering the Use of Firearms?

From a chimp sporting a six-shooter in the 1937 western "Chimp the Cowboy," to the 1970s comedy series "Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp," and the 2014 film "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," primates have been locked in a cinematic battle with humans. But outside of movies, could these animals actually operate a handgun?

First, it’s essential to understand the distinction between monkeys and apes – two separate categories of primates. Monkeys are often characterized by their tails and adorable features. Larger species include baboons and macaques, while smaller ones encompass squirrel, howler, and spider monkeys (like Miss Baker, the space-faring spider monkey) and Capuchins, such as Marcel from "Friends."

Monkeys would face significant challenges in firing a gun. As quadrupeds, they walk on the palms of their hands, similar to dogs, rather than upright like humans. Additionally, their hands lack the anatomical structure and dexterity required to grip and discharge a handgun.

Primate Power

This is one aspect that movies and TV shows accurately portray. If non-human primates were to use handguns, chimpanzees or other apes would likely be the ones capable of doing so. The ape family, which includes chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans, consists of tailless primates that walk semi-upright. They fold their hands under, allowing them to walk on their fists or knuckles, protecting their sensitive finger pads (similar to humans) from ground contact, explains Susan Kirkpatrick Smith, a physical anthropologist and chair of the Department of Geography and Anthropology at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

Smith notes, "Apes possess less wrist flexibility compared to humans, which prevents them from crafting stone tools as humans do. When considering chimpanzees using primitive weapons, we imagine them wielding sticks or rocks—tools they can hold, not projectiles. Their lack of wrist flexibility means they don’t have the same level of control as humans."

But does this imply they couldn’t operate a gun? Some primatologists argue that chimpanzees could be physically trained to use firearms or other weapons. As natural mimics, they could replicate human actions. However, they lack the cognitive capacity to amass weapons or target humans—or do they?

Tools and Weapons

Santino, a chimpanzee in a Swedish zoo, has been observed hoarding rocks to throw at a later time. Researchers consider this behavior a rare example of deception in chimps, showcasing advanced mental capabilities—and possibly a strong argument against arming them with handguns.

While Santino’s behavior is exceptional, he isn’t the only aggressive chimpanzee. A study from April 2015 revealed that a group of chimps in Senegal regularly crafts weapons to hunt and kill sleeping bushbabies (a smaller primate species) for food. Interestingly, these weapons are sharpened sticks, primarily used by female chimps to stab their prey.

Not all great apes exhibit the aggression or cunning seen in chimpanzees. Bonobos, for instance, can master various "human" tasks—such as building and lighting fires, driving golf carts, and even playing Pac Man (as seen in the video below!). However, their hands lack the dexterity of humans, raising questions about their ability to handle firearms.

Hand size also poses a challenge. Recent research indicates that chimpanzee hands, which are larger than human hands, have evolved in ways that make them less suited for tasks like pulling a trigger. Their fingers might struggle to fit comfortably inside the trigger guards of guns designed for human use.

While it’s plausible to train a chimpanzee or even a bonobo to fire a handgun, ensuring accuracy, timing, and proper targeting would be nearly impossible. When it comes to firearms, humans remain the most proficient and dangerous primates on Earth.