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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing at the Nationwide Rifle Association’s annual meeting this weekend in Houston, saying it will be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out 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 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday evening throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom live performance. But these plans modified when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on kids within the worst mass shooting at an American college in almost a decade.

“In gentle of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it might be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in a press release. “I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as properly. In any case, we are all Individuals.”

McLean is among a number of performers who’ve introduced they are going to not carry out at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Stressed Coronary heart additionally mentioned Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin said he was additionally dropping out because of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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