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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing at the National Rifle Affiliation’s annual assembly 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 shooting in the state.

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday evening in the course of the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. However those plans modified when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty 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 latest occasions in Texas, I've decided it might be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in an announcement. “I’m positive all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as well. In spite of everything, we are all Individuals.”

McLean is amongst a couple of performers who’ve introduced they may not perform at this weekend’s conference. 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 capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin stated he was additionally dropping out resulting from what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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