NRA convention concert cancelled after musicians drop out in wake of Uvalde mass shooting

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorA group of 200 top writers, producers and directors have signed an open letter backed by the Brady gun violence organization that includes a pledge to incorporate gun safety best practices into their shows and to scrutinize the use of firearms in storytellling.The list of signatories includes Shonda Rhimes, Bill Lawrence, Jimmy Kimmel and the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” writing staff, Michelle and Robert King, Judd Apatow, Steve Levitan, David Shore, Matt Nix, Dan Lin and Jenni Konner. The letter frames gun safety an urgent social issue for the industry to embrace, in the same way that intentional depictions of such topics as cigarette smoking, drunk driving, the use of seat belts, marriage equality and LGBT rights helped change cultural attitudes and save lives.

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Weeks after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, one would assume lawmakers in the US would be working on gun control legislation and keeping children safe. Instead, one Republican Texas State Representative Bryan Slaton has found a new target – drag queens.Slaton, who describes himself as a “Christian Conservative”, announced on social media that he would be introducing a bill to ban drag queens around minors. “The events of this past weekend were horrifying and show a disturbing trend,” Slaton said in a press statement.

Ellise Shafer In a speech on Thursday, President Joe Biden called for the ban of assault weapons in the United States following several recent mass shootings, including those in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, N.Y.On May 24, the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two children. Just 10 days before, a shooting at a Buffalo grocery store killed 10 people. And on Wednesday, five people were killed at a hospital in Tulsa, Okla.

Multiple sources are now saying that the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) has stopped cooperating with investigators looking into the recent mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

Don McLean, Lee Greenwood, Larry Gatlin and many others. However, all the performers have now dropped out.McLean announced on Wednesday (May 25) that he was pulling out of his appearance.

Lee Greenwood is opening up on his decision not to perform at the National Rifle Association (NRA) conference on Friday in Houston, Texas in the wake of the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde that left 19 children and two teachers dead. "You know, I thought about that long and hard," Greenwood explained to Fox News Digital. "I talked to some of my friends Don McLean and Larry Gatlin.

A string of performers have pulled out of the NRA’s planned “Grand Ol’ Night of Freedom” concert, which was set to happen this weekend in Houston during the organization’s annual conference.

Don McLean announced on Wednesday (May 25) that he was pulling out of his appearance, and he has now been followed by a host of other musicians including singers Lee Greenwood and Larry Gatlin, Danielle Peck and Larry Stewart of the country band Restless Heart.“I cannot, in good conscience, perform at the NRA convention in Houston this weekend,” Gatlin, of the Gatlin Brothers, said in a statement.“While I agree with most of the positions held by the NRA, I have come to believe that, while background checks would not stop every madman with a gun, it is at the very least a step in the right direction toward trying to prevent the kind of tragedy we saw this week in Uvalde – in my beloved, weeping TEXAS.”He concluded: “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy, but the 2nd Amendment should not apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”A post shared by Larry Gatlin (@larrygatlin)Stewart said in a similar statement: “I want to honor the victims, families, the town and our friends in the great state of Texas the best I know how.”Peck added: “After much thought, as a both a mother and out of respect for all of the families in Uvalde, TX during the heartbreaking time, I have made the decision to not host or perform at the NRA Event in Houston this weekend.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFollowing Don McLean, Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart, right-wing country singer Lee Greenwood announced that he is pulling out of the concert scheduled to take place at the NRA rally in Houston over Memorial Day weekend. His departure effectively leaves the concert without a headliner.In a statement, Greenwood said: “As a father, I join the rest of America in being absolutely heartbroken by the horrific event that transpired this week in Texas.

Tuesday's massacre at Robb Elementary School."It is not a perfect world and the 'if only crowd's' policies will never make it one. I am a 'what if guy' and I can't help but ask the question, 'What if the teachers had been proficient in the use of firearms and had, in fact been armed this week? My answer is that there would not be 21 freshly dug graves for 21 of GOD's precious children," he said.Larry, who has performed at past NRA conventions, is one of several performers choosing to bow out of the "NRA Grand Ole Night of Freedom."On May 25, Don McLean opted out, saying it would be "disrespectful and hurtful" for him to perform. "I'm sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well.

Meghan Markle is paying tribute to the victims in Uvalde, Texas in person.

A day after "American Pie" singer Don McLean pulled out of the annual National Rifle Association convention, Larry Gatlin as well as Larry Stewart of Restless Heart announced they will be following in McLean’s footsteps and won't be performing in Houston, Texas. In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, Gatlin shared that he "cannot in good conscience" perform this weekend.  "To my fellow sad Americans—I cannot, in good conscience, perform at the NRA convention in Houston this weekend," his statement began.

statement posted to Facebook. “While I agree with most of the positions held by the NRA, I have come to believe that, while background checks would not stop every madman with a gun, it is at the very least a step in the right direction toward trying to prevent the kind of tragedy we saw this week in Uvalde— in my beloved, weeping TEXAS.”“It is not a perfect world and the ‘if only crowd’s’ policies will never make it one. I am a ‘what if guy’ and I can’t help but ask the question, ‘What if the teachers had been proficient in the use of firearms and had, in fact been armed this week?” Gatlin continued.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorA day after Don McLean pulled out of the NRA’s Memorial Day concert in Houston scheduled for this weekend, Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart of Restless Heart have pulled out as well.The concert is part of a larger rally organized by the National Rifle Association, featuring speeches from former President Donald Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Senator Ted Cruz; “over 14 acres of guns and gear and 800 exhibitors”; and with a concert featuring Lee Greenwood and others. The event is going forward even though it is taking place just three days after — and less than 300 miles from — Uvalde, Texas, where a school shooting Monday killed at least 19 children and two adults.

a statement saying that the event would continue as planned. Prominent Republicans including former President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott are slated to attend and give speeches.The gunman entered Robb Elementary School on Tuesday and killed 19 children and two adults.

In light of Tuesday’s deadly mass shooting in Texas, “American Pie” singer Don McLean announced that he will no longer be performing at this year’s National Rifle Association (NRA) Convention in Houston. “In light of the recent events in Texas, I have decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA at their convention in Houston this week,” the 76-year-old rock star said in a statement, Fox News reported.

Don McLean has cancelled a scheduled performance at the National Rifle Association’s national convention this weekend following the mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas earlier this week.On Tuesday (May 24), an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, which teaches children aged seven to 10. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that the suspect was later shot dead by responding law enforcement officials.As Consequence Of Sound reports, at least 19 children and two teachers were killed in the attack.McLean was set to appear at the NRA convention this weekend in Houston, Texas which is approximately 250 miles from Uvalde.