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

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night through the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. But these plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on children within the worst mass shooting at an American faculty in nearly a decade.

“In gentle of the latest occasions in Texas, I've decided it might be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in an announcement. “I’m positive all the oldsters planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as nicely. In spite of everything, we are all Individuals.”

McLean is amongst just a few performers who’ve announced they may no longer carry out at this weekend’s conference. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Coronary heart also said Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin said he was additionally dropping out because of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, however the 2nd amendment shouldn't apply to everybody. It’s that easy.”