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

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday evening during the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom live performance. However those plans modified when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on youngsters in the worst mass capturing at an American faculty in nearly a decade.

“In gentle of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it will be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention 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 events as properly. In spite of everything, we are all Individuals.”

McLean is among just a few performers who’ve announced they'll now not carry out at this weekend’s convention. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Coronary heart also stated Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin stated he was also dropping out resulting from what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he stated.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