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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 children and two adults have been killed in a mass capturing within the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday evening throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. However those plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on kids within the worst mass shooting at an American college in practically a decade.

“In light of the current events in Texas, I have determined it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in an announcement. “I’m sure all the oldsters planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. In any case, we are all People.”

McLean is amongst a number of performers who’ve announced they are going to no longer carry out at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Heart also stated Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out as a result of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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