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

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom concert. 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 kids within the worst mass capturing at an American college in almost a decade.

“In gentle of the current events in Texas, I have decided it will be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, stated in an announcement. “I’m certain all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as properly. In any case, we are all Americans.”

McLean is amongst a few performers who’ve introduced they'll no longer carry out at this weekend’s convention. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Stressed Coronary heart also said Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin said he was also dropping out as a consequence of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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