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

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday evening throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom live performance. However those plans modified when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on children in the worst mass shooting at an American school in practically a decade.

“In gentle of the current events in Texas, I have determined it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a press release. “I’m positive all the folks planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as properly. After all, we are all Americans.”

McLean is amongst a number of performers who’ve announced they'll now not carry out at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Heart also stated Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out due to what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in america.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned. “I’m a 2nd Modification man, however the 2nd amendment shouldn't apply to everybody. It’s that simple.”