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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 would be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 kids and two adults have been killed in a mass taking pictures in the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night time during the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom concert. But those plans modified 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 shooting at an American college in nearly a decade.

“In gentle of the recent occasions in Texas, I've determined it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, stated in a press release. “I’m positive all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these occasions as properly. After all, we're all Americans.”

McLean is amongst a few performers who’ve announced they are going to not perform at this weekend’s convention. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Stressed Coronary heart also stated Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin mentioned he was additionally dropping out resulting from what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who are struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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 should not apply to everybody. It’s that simple.”