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

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night time in the course of 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 in the worst mass taking pictures at an American faculty in nearly a decade.

“In light of the recent events in Texas, I've determined it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a press release. “I’m certain all the parents planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as well. In any case, we're all People.”

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

Gatlin mentioned he was additionally dropping out because of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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