Police response beneath mounting criticism as Biden plans visit

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

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night during the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom live performance. However these plans modified when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on children in the worst mass shooting at an American school in practically a decade.

“In gentle of the current occasions in Texas, I have determined it will be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a statement. “I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. In spite of everything, we are all Americans.”

McLean is amongst a number of performers who’ve announced they will no longer carry out at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Coronary heart additionally stated Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin said he was also dropping out attributable to what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned. “I’m a 2nd Amendment man, but the 2nd modification shouldn't apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”