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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 will be “disrespectful and hurtful” to perform days after 19 children and two adults have been killed in a mass shooting in the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to carry out Saturday evening in the course of the NRA’s Grand Ole Night of Freedom concert. But these plans modified when a gunman, identified by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on children within the worst mass shooting at an American college in practically a decade.

“In mild of the latest events in Texas, I've determined it will be disrespectful and hurtful for me to carry out for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, mentioned in a press release. “I’m certain all the oldsters planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these occasions as well. After all, we're all Americans.”

McLean is amongst just a few performers who’ve introduced they are going to no longer perform at this weekend’s conference. Nation and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Coronary heart also stated Thursday that they have been dropping out in response to the taking pictures at Robb Elementary Faculty.

Gatlin mentioned he was also dropping out due to what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms” in the United States.

“My prayers and thoughts go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink some of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions relating to firearms in AMERICA,” he said.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