Still smarting from the kick of public feedback over a resolution to support state Initiative 594, Langley policy makers have decided it might be best to stay out of state politics that don’t directly affect the city.

Prompted in part by Mayor Fred McCarthy’s retraction of the resolution, which he proposed last month, the council informally agreed to adopt a standard practice to not take any official stance on state and federal issues at Monday’s regular meeting.

The decision, though not voted on, represents a step away from McCarthy’s proposed resolution of support for Initiative 594 which calls for gun sale and transfer regulation.

Word of the proposed endorsement quickly spread around South Whidbey and dozens attended a September council meeting to voice their displeasure at the city’s proposed vote. Most in the crowd spoke against the decision, with a couple supporting I-594 and the city’s role.

Councilman Thomas Gill first addressed the issue in September and said it was inappropriate for the city to take a position. Council members Rene Neff and Jim Sundberg stood behind McCarthy’s decision, but the motion was tabled by Gill and council members Bruce Allen and Robin Black.

On Oct. 6, McCarthy said he possibly made a “new mayor mistake,” in assuming he had widespread support for the controversial issue that brings up Second Amendment rights and public health and safety.

“If they were brought up every week, we’d be dividing the citizens,” McCarthy said of the city entertaining future support for state and national issues such as coal train expansion in Western Washington.

Vance Tillman, a Langley resident, was the only one person from the crowd who spoke on the matter. He urged the city to consider the burden I-594 would place on law enforcement to run background checks for what he described as a simple handoff of a firearm for target shooting.

Despite earlier supporting the city’s backing of I-594, both Neff and Sundberg agreed that it should be left to voters and the state.

“Our decision will not have that big of an impact,” Neff said, referring to a city resolution of support in the overall voting of a statewide measure.

The standard practice calls for the city to not take formal positions on matters that don’t directly involve the conduct of city business. McCarthy called it “more fair” and “respectful of various points of view.”