Politicians, activists and lobbyist are not helping the situation by making statements as fact that are seemingly made up on-the-fly. Much of the false information is meant to persuade people to follow the speakers agendas, false agendas at that. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, who is pushing for further gun control policies, made the statement to reporters, claiming that she has held an AR-15 but wished she had not.

“It is as heavy as 10 boxes that you might be moving, and the bullet that is utilized, a .50 caliber, these kinds of bullets need to be licensed and do not need to be on the street.”

— Sheila Jackson Lee [1]

The real facts are: A loaded AR-15 weighs about 7.5 pounds and does not fire .50 caliber rounds, but rather .223 ammunition. The difference between the size of the two types of ammunition is stark, with .50 rounds typically used by the military in heavy machine guns and anti-materiel weapons.

References:
1 ~ Sheila Jackson Lee’s incorrectly claimed that AR-15 rifles fire .50 caliber ammunition
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congresswoman-mocked-for-saying-ar-15-is-as-heavy-as-10-moving-boxes-fires-50-caliber-bullets