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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing on the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation’s annual meeting this weekend in Houston, saying it will be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 children and two adults had been killed in a mass shooting in the state.

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

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

McLean is among a number of performers who’ve announced they'll no longer perform at this weekend’s convention. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Stressed Coronary heart also mentioned Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin stated he was also dropping out as a result of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in america.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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