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

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folk rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night during the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. But those plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on youngsters within the worst mass taking pictures at an American college in almost a decade.

“In gentle of the recent occasions in Texas, I've determined it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a press release. “I’m certain all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these occasions as nicely. After all, we're all Americans.”

McLean is among a couple of performers who’ve introduced they are going to now not carry out at this weekend’s conference. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Heart also mentioned Thursday that they were dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin mentioned he was additionally dropping out because of what he cited because the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in america.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned.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