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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing on the National Rifle Affiliation’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it will be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform days after 19 youngsters and two adults had been killed in a mass capturing within the state.

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night during the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom live performance. But these plans changed when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on children in the worst mass capturing at an American college in almost a decade.

“In mild of the latest occasions in Texas, I've decided it might be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a press release. “I’m sure all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as properly. In spite of everything, we're all Individuals.”

McLean is among a number of performers who’ve introduced they will not perform at this weekend’s convention. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Heart also said Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out as a consequence of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he said. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, but the 2nd modification mustn't apply to everybody. It’s that simple.”