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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing on the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it will be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 youngsters and two adults have 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 carry out Saturday night through the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom concert. However these plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on youngsters within the worst mass capturing at an American school in nearly a decade.

“In gentle of the latest occasions in Texas, I have determined it might be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in an announcement. “I’m positive all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these occasions as effectively. In any case, we are all Americans.”

McLean is amongst just a few performers who’ve announced they may no longer perform at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Heart also said Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out as a consequence of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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