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

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday evening throughout the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening 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 began firing on kids in the worst mass capturing at an American faculty in practically a decade.

“In mild of the recent events in Texas, I've decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in an announcement. “I’m positive all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these occasions as properly. In any case, we're all Americans.”

McLean is among just a few performers who’ve introduced they may no longer perform at this weekend’s convention. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Coronary heart also mentioned Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin said he was additionally dropping out attributable to what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he said.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