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

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

“In light of the current occasions in Texas, I've 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 a press release. “I’m certain all the parents planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as effectively. In any case, we're all Individuals.”

McLean is among a number of performers who’ve introduced they'll now not perform at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Stressed Heart also mentioned Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out due to what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he said. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, however the 2nd modification shouldn't apply to everybody. It’s that simple.”