Police response below mounting criticism as Biden plans visit

The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing at the National Rifle Association’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it will be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 youngsters and two adults have been killed in a mass capturing in the state.

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday evening in the course of the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom live performance. But those plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on kids within the worst mass taking pictures at an American faculty in practically a decade.

“In gentle of the current events in Texas, I have decided it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a statement. “I’m positive all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as effectively. After all, we are all Americans.”

McLean is among a few performers who’ve announced they are going to no longer perform 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 had been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin said he was additionally dropping out due to what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he said. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, however the 2nd amendment mustn't apply to everybody. It’s that easy.”