Police response under mounting criticism as Biden plans visit

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

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

“In gentle of the latest events in Texas, I have decided it would 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 certain all the parents planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as well. After all, we're all Americans.”

McLean is amongst just a few performers who’ve announced 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 stated Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin stated he was additionally dropping out resulting from what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he stated.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 Modification man, but the 2nd modification mustn't apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”