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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing at the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it could be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 children and two adults had been killed in a mass taking pictures within the state.

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. But those plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on children within the worst mass taking pictures at an American school in nearly a decade.

“In gentle of the recent events in Texas, I've decided it will be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, stated in a press release. “I’m sure all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as well. In spite of everything, we are all Individuals.”

McLean is among a few performers who’ve announced they'll now not carry out at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Coronary heart also mentioned Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin mentioned he was additionally dropping out resulting from what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Amendment man, but the 2nd amendment shouldn't apply to everyone. It’s that straightforward.”