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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing at the Nationwide Rifle Association’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it would 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 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night during the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom concert. But these plans changed when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on children in the worst mass shooting at an American college in nearly a decade.

“In light of the current occasions in Texas, I have determined it might be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, stated in an announcement. “I’m sure all the parents planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as properly. In spite of everything, we're all Individuals.”

McLean is amongst a number of performers who’ve introduced they will now not carry out at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Stressed Heart also said Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin stated he was also dropping out because of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he said. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, however the 2nd modification mustn't apply to everybody. It’s that straightforward.”