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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing at the Nationwide Rifle Association’s annual meeting this weekend in Houston, saying it might be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform days after 19 kids and two adults were killed in a mass taking pictures in the state.

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

“In gentle of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it will be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in an announcement. “I’m positive all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as well. After all, we're all Americans.”

McLean is among a few performers who’ve announced they are going to no longer perform at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Stressed Coronary heart also mentioned Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out due to what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who are struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he said. “I’m a 2nd Amendment man, but the 2nd modification should not apply to everybody. It’s that straightforward.”