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

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday evening in the course of the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom live performance. 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 youngsters in the worst mass taking pictures at an American faculty in almost a decade.

“In mild of the current occasions in Texas, I have decided it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in a press release. “I’m positive all the parents planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as nicely. In any case, we are all Americans.”

McLean is amongst a few performers who’ve introduced they are going to now not carry out at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Stressed Coronary heart also mentioned Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin stated he was also dropping out attributable to what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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