The national debate over gun rights received a jolt earlier this month as Rep. Tony Wied (R-WI) unveiled legislation to prohibit magazine capacity restrictions across the country.

Wied’s introduced the Freedom from Improper Regulation and Enforcement Act (FIRE Act), a bill that would prohibit all laws limiting magazine capacity for firearms nationwide. For supporters of gun rights, the bill is being touted as a critical safeguard, aiming to prevent both the federal government and any state or local jurisdiction from passing or enforcing restrictions on the number of rounds a magazine can hold.

Wied, who came into office fresh off a decisive 2024 victory in Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district, is a political newcomer. Before running for Congress, he built his reputation as a small business owner, operating the Dino Stop convenience store chain.

His rise in the political area was swift, propelled by a prominent endorsement from President Donald Trump, which paved the way for his primary win. In the general election, he bested his Democratic rival, Dr. Kristin Lyerly, by a 57% to 43% margin. Now in his first term, Wied has wasted no time taking up causes dear to pro-gun constituencies.

If passed, the FIRE Act would override the patchwork of magazine capacity restrictions that are on the books throughout the United States. 14 states, along with the District of Columbia, have some form of magazine size limit, most often capping capacity at ten rounds, with some districts and municipalities enforcing even stricter limits. The majority of states, however, do not have similar laws on the books. This confusing legal landscape has long frustrated gun owners, many of whom risk running afoul of the law simply by traveling across state lines with magazines that are legal at home but banned elsewhere.

For too long, the government has infringed on our 2nd Amendment rights.

Thats why today I introduced the FIRE Act to ensure that law-abiding gun owners can access magazines of any size, no matter where they are in the U.S.

It’s time we take “shall not be infringed” seriously. pic.twitter.com/PWmSjGg0Kv

— Rep. Tony Wied (@RepTonyWied) July 17, 2025

For advocates of the Second Amendment, this bill addresses what they see as a persistent encroachment on constitutionally protected rights. Congressman Wied has argued that the current system of varying state and local rules creates not only legal ambiguity, but what he describes as a violation of the United States’ founding principles.

“For too long, the federal government has infringed on Americans’ Second Amendment rights while maintaining a confusing, inconsistent system that lacks a uniform national standard and invites legal disparity,” proclaimed Wied. “The FIRE Act ensures that law-abiding gun owners can access magazines of any size, no matter where they are in the United States. It’s well past time we take the Founding Fathers’ words, “shall not be infringed,” seriously.”

He contends that law-abiding citizens should not face disparate treatment — or risk criminal penalties — for carrying what industry statistics show are standard-issue magazines.

Data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) underscores this point. Nearly 973 million detachable magazines were produced from 1990 through 2021, with the overwhelming majority — over 700 million — built to hold over ten rounds. For gun rights organizations and many gun owners, these numbers reveal that so-called “high-capacity” magazines are not the exception, but the norm.

The act is co-sponsored by a slate of Republican elected officials, like Reps. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Mike Collins (R-GA), Dave Taylor (R-OH), Sheri Biggs (R-SC), and Russ Fulcher (R-ID).

The bill also enjoys the backing of influential organizations such as the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. They view the legislation as a necessary bulwark against what they perceive as relentless efforts by gun control advocates to whittle away the Second Amendment via gradualist bans and a patchwork of gun control measures at the state level.

“Americans’ right to keep and bear arms has always been at the core of our fundamental freedoms,” declared Rep. Tiffany. “The Fire Act protects law-abiding gun owners and keeps state and local governments, as well as future administrations, from infringing on your Second Amendment rights.”

“Second amendment rights are one of the foundational principles America is built upon, and they must be vigilantly affirmed and protected,” proclaimed Rep. Taylor. “The FIRE Act will not only enshrine Americans’ right to self-defense, but it will also remove confusion about permissible magazine capacities by prohibiting a patchwork of state and local restrictions which inherently infringe on our freedoms. Where a person lives shouldn’t limit their ability to defend themselves, and I am proud to help introduce this America-First bill.”

Wied sees the FIRE Act as an assertive response to developments he and his supporters deem as encroachments on the right to bear arms. He believes passing this law would bring about the legal consistency that gun owners have long sought, ensure fairness for citizens nationwide, and align federal statutes with industry realities.

The fate of the FIRE Act now lies with Congress. AmmoLand will follow this story; stay tuned for updates.

About José Niño

José Niño is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. You can contact him via Facebook and X/Twitter. Subscribe to his Substack newsletter by visiting “Jose Nino Unfiltered” on Substack.com.