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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing at the National Rifle Affiliation’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it could be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform days after 19 children and two adults had been killed in a mass taking pictures in the state.

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night time throughout 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 College in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on children in the worst mass shooting at an American faculty in almost a decade.

“In gentle of the recent occasions in Texas, I've determined it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a statement. “I’m positive all the parents planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as properly. In any case, we're all People.”

McLean is among a number of performers who’ve introduced they'll now not carry out at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Heart additionally stated Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin stated he was additionally dropping out due to what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in america.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Modification man, however the 2nd modification mustn't apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”