Police response below mounting criticism as Biden plans visit

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 would be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform days after 19 children and two adults were 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 night time during the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom live performance. However these plans modified when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on kids within the worst mass capturing at an American faculty in almost a decade.

“In gentle of the current occasions in Texas, I've decided it will be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in an announcement. “I’m sure all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as effectively. After all, we're all People.”

McLean is among a number of performers who’ve introduced they may no longer perform at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Heart additionally said Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin said he was additionally dropping out because of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Modification man, but the 2nd amendment should not apply to everybody. It’s that easy.”