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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing on the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting this weekend in Houston, saying it would be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 kids and two adults have been killed in a mass shooting within the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night time through the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom concert. But these plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on kids within the worst mass shooting at an American faculty in practically a decade.

“In gentle of the recent occasions in Texas, I have 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 sure all the folks planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as effectively. After all, we're all Individuals.”

McLean is amongst just a few performers who’ve introduced they may not perform at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Coronary heart also said Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin said he was also dropping out because of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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 Amendment man, but the 2nd amendment should not apply to everyone. It’s that straightforward.”