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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 will be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform days after 19 kids and two adults were killed in a mass taking pictures within the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. However these plans changed when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on kids within the worst mass capturing at an American school in practically a decade.

“In gentle of the recent events in Texas, I have determined it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out 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 occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as well. After all, we're all People.”

McLean is amongst just a few performers who’ve introduced they will not perform at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Coronary heart also stated Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin mentioned he was additionally dropping out because of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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