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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 might be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 children and two adults had been killed in a mass capturing within the state.

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

“In gentle of the latest events in Texas, I've determined it might be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their conference in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a statement. “I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as properly. In spite of everything, we're all People.”

McLean is among just a few performers who’ve announced they may not carry out at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Stressed Coronary heart additionally mentioned Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin stated he was also dropping out resulting from what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in america.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who're suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he stated.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