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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing at the Nationwide 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 have been killed in a mass shooting in the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday evening throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom live performance. However these plans modified when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on kids in the worst mass shooting at an American faculty in practically a decade.

“In mild of the current occasions in Texas, I have decided it might be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in a press release. “I’m positive all the parents planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as effectively. In any case, we're all People.”

McLean is amongst a number of performers who’ve announced they are going to now not carry out at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Stressed Coronary heart additionally said Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin stated he was additionally dropping out resulting from what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in america.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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