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The singer and songwriter introduced that he’s dropping out from performing at the Nationwide Rifle Association’s annual meeting 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 capturing in the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night time in the course of the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom concert. But those plans changed when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on youngsters within the worst mass capturing at an American school in almost a decade.

“In light of the latest events in Texas, I've 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 an announcement. “I’m sure all the parents planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as effectively. In spite of everything, we are all People.”

McLean is among a number of performers who’ve introduced they are going to not carry out at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Coronary heart also stated Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin stated he was also dropping out attributable to what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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