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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing on the National Rifle Affiliation’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it might be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform 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 carry out Saturday night throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. However these plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on children in the worst mass taking pictures at an American college in almost a decade.

“In mild of the current occasions in Texas, I've determined it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in a press release. “I’m sure all the parents planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these occasions as properly. In spite of everything, we're all Individuals.”

McLean is amongst just a few performers who’ve announced they are going to not carry out at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Heart also stated Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin stated he was additionally dropping out as a consequence of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Amendment man, but the 2nd modification shouldn't apply to everybody. It’s that easy.”