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The singer and songwriter announced that he’s dropping out from performing on the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation’s annual assembly this weekend in Houston, saying it will be “disrespectful and hurtful” to carry out days after 19 youngsters and two adults were killed in a mass taking pictures in the state.

McLean, who's best-known for his legendary 1971 folks rock anthem “American Pie,” was scheduled to perform Saturday night through the NRA’s Grand Ole Evening of Freedom concert. But those plans modified when a gunman, recognized by police as Salvador Ramos, 18, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and started firing on youngsters in the worst mass capturing at an American school in almost a decade.

“In mild of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it could be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” McLean, 76, said in a statement. “I’m positive all the folks planning to attend this occasion are shocked and sickened by these events as nicely. After all, we are all Americans.”

McLean is among a number of performers who’ve introduced they are going to not perform at this weekend’s conference. Country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of the country band Stressed Heart also stated Thursday that they had been dropping out in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Gatlin mentioned he was additionally dropping out on account of what he cited as the NRA’s “outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms” in the USA.

“My prayers and ideas go to all who are suffering, and I pray that the NRA will rethink a few of its outdated and ill-thought-out positions regarding firearms in AMERICA,” he stated. “I’m a 2nd Modification man, but the 2nd amendment should not apply to everybody. It’s that easy.”