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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 might be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 youngsters and two adults had been killed in a mass shooting in the state.

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night time throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. But these plans modified when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on youngsters in the worst mass taking pictures at an American faculty in practically a decade.

“In mild of the current events in Texas, I have determined it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, stated in a statement. “I’m certain all the oldsters planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as properly. In any case, we're all People.”

McLean is amongst just a few performers who’ve announced they'll not perform at this weekend’s conference. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Coronary heart also said Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out attributable to what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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, but the 2nd modification should not apply to everybody. It’s that simple.”