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

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 people rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night in the course of the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom concert. However those plans changed when a gunman, recognized 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 college in almost a decade.

“In gentle of the current occasions in Texas, I've determined it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, stated in a statement. “I’m certain all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. In any case, we are all People.”

McLean is among a couple of performers who’ve announced they'll now not carry out at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Heart also stated Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary College.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out as a result of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the US.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, however the 2nd amendment should not apply to everybody. It’s that easy.”