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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing on the Nationwide Rifle Association’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it could be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 children and two adults were killed in a mass shooting in the state.

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night time during the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom live performance. However these plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on kids in the worst mass shooting at an American faculty in nearly a decade.

“In light of the recent occasions in Texas, I have decided 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 press release. “I’m certain all the folks planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as well. In any case, we're all Individuals.”

McLean is amongst a couple of performers who’ve introduced they are going to now not perform at this weekend’s conference. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Stressed Heart additionally said Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin said he was also dropping out resulting from what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he said. “I’m a 2nd Modification man, but the 2nd modification mustn't apply to everyone. It’s that straightforward.”