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

McLean, who is best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night time during the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. But these plans changed when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on kids in the worst mass shooting at an American school in practically a decade.

“In gentle of the latest events in Texas, I've decided it would 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 occasions as effectively. After all, we're all Americans.”

McLean is amongst a few performers who’ve announced they are going to no longer carry out at this weekend’s convention. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Stressed Coronary heart also said Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out as a consequence of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he said. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, but the 2nd modification should not apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”