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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing at 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 have been killed in a mass capturing in the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night in the course of the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom concert. However those plans modified when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on children in the worst mass shooting at an American school in almost a decade.

“In light of the latest occasions in Texas, I have decided it will be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in an announcement. “I’m certain all the parents planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as properly. In any case, we're all Individuals.”

McLean is among just a few performers who’ve introduced they may not perform at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Stressed Heart additionally mentioned Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin said he was also dropping out due to what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, however the 2nd amendment shouldn't apply to everyone. It’s that easy.”