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

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday evening in the course of the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. However those plans modified when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on children in the worst mass capturing at an American faculty in practically a decade.

“In gentle of the latest events in Texas, I have decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, stated in a statement. “I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these occasions as nicely. After all, we're all Americans.”

McLean is among a few performers who’ve announced they will no longer perform at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Coronary heart also said Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin stated he was additionally dropping out as a result of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he stated.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