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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing on the Nationwide 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 had been killed in a mass capturing in the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday night time through the NRA’s Grand Ole Night time of Freedom live performance. However those plans changed when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Tex., and began firing on children in the worst mass capturing at an American school in practically a decade.

“In light of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it will 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 oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as properly. After all, we're all Americans.”

McLean is amongst a couple of performers who’ve announced they'll no longer perform at this weekend’s conference. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the nation band Restless Coronary heart also mentioned Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the capturing at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin mentioned he was additionally dropping out as a consequence of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who're struggling, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions concerning firearms in AMERICA,” he mentioned. “I’m a 2nd Amendment man, but the 2nd amendment shouldn't apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”