Considering that the fuel companies are privately owned, why then do people think government can...?

(man they need a longer character limit on questions.)

Considering that the fuel companies are privately owned (though some publicly traded), why then do people think that government can tell them what prices to charge on anything?

This question is in response to so many people begging the government to do something about the rising gasoline and fuel prices in the united states. As it stands, in a capitalistic and free market, there are no laws which allow the Government to dictate to private companies what if any prices they are allowed to charge. In fact, laws are in place on both the state and federal level which explicitly prevent such action. Yet time and time again people are calling for the government to do something about rising fuel and gasoline prices. Keeping in mind the current laws in place that prevent such actions, why then are people angry at the government for not doing anything when realistically there isn't anything they legally CAN do?