Police response underneath mounting criticism as Biden plans visit

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

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday evening throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom concert. But these plans modified when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on youngsters in the worst mass shooting at an American faculty in almost a decade.

“In mild of the current events in Texas, I've decided it could 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 sure all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as nicely. In any case, we're all People.”

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

Gatlin mentioned he was additionally dropping out because of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, but the 2nd modification should not apply to everybody. It’s that straightforward.”