united-states united-kingdom european-union property weapons
If someone shoots you, whose property is the bullet?
<p>This may sound crazy but it is inspired by <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/59287/what-if-a-spacecraft-lands-on-my-property">What if a spacecraft lands on my property?</a></p>
<p>The answer there seems to be that you don't acquire another's property just by it appearing in your domain.</p>
<p>The conclusion I draw from this is that if someone shot you, they would legally be entitled to ask for return of the bullet.</p>
<p>If so, and return of the bullet were refused, could this be raised as a civil case and how would one assess the damages?</p>

<p>It could probably be argued that a bullet intentionally shot from a gun is abandoned property, and thus the shooter has no claim to its return. In addition, such a bullet might be evidence of a crime, to be seized by law enforcement, although that would not affect its ultimate ownership, at least not in the US.</p>
<p>Intent matters in such cases. A person who shoots a gun probably does not reasonably expect to retain possession and control of the bullet, whatever may have been shot at.  Well, someone shooting at a properly controlled target for practice on his or her own property probably retains ownership of the bullet.</p>

<p>As others have alluded to, there are a number of different scenarios that can be read in to the OP.  Here's one...</p>
<p><strong>Re: the United Kingdom</strong></p>
<p><em>If</em> this is a criminal act, and <em>if</em> the bullet can be recovered and <em>if</em> the police are investigating - the bullet will be seized as evidence and retained as police property.</p>
<p>Once any investigations, trials and appeals have concluded the police will either apply to the court for an Order of destruction or (if it is unique, notable or has a significant importance) an Order for it to be permanently retained by the police/army etc to be used in training, for display in a museum etc.</p>
<p>Even if found not guilty, it may not be returned to the shooter unless he makes a successful application to the court contesting the Order.</p>
<p>(NB this reply does not describe the process for every scenario involving seized property, but it is the norm for weapons etc that have inflicted injury.)</p>
