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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing on the National Rifle Association’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it might be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform days after 19 youngsters and two adults had been killed in a mass taking pictures in the state.

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night during the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom concert. However those plans modified when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on children in the worst mass shooting at an American faculty in nearly a decade.

“In light of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it would 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 certain all the parents planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as well. In any case, we're all Americans.”

McLean is among just a few performers who’ve announced they will now not carry out at this weekend’s convention. Country 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 Faculty.

Gatlin said he was also dropping out because of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Amendment man, however the 2nd modification should not apply to everybody. It’s that simple.”