Good Guy Gone Too Soon

There is no excuse for hunting and shooting accidents. I have seen people mishandle firearms in my 55 years on this earth and in the past I have put up with it because of who someone was or who they were with at the time. I was wrong to do so and decided several years ago to come down hard on anyone I see doing any unsafe practice with a firearm. I will not hunt or shoot again with someone that does so and does not care to learn better. I will repeat again there is NO EXCUSE for any unsafe practice with a firearm. I have a dear friend that lost a nephew this last week. He was one of the good guys and will be missed by family and friends. He leaves a six week old daughter that will never know her father. He leaves a wife that will miss his voice and touch. I received notice of Matt’s death from his Uncle, Tom Jansen. Reading the original email brought tears to my face as I could feel the pain being felt by the one sending it out. I feel the pain as I write this and I am going to publish, at Tom’s request, the obituary here in hopes that someone reading this might become a safer shooter. May we all make an effort to never point a gun at anything we do not want to shoot. In the excitement of the hunt no trophy on this earth is worth losing control or not knowing where your buddies are located. Never set up in a group hunt where anyone could be in anyone else’s line of fire. Never take a shot that you are unsure of your background. I am not preaching here I am praying along with Tom that this might save someone’s life.

Here is the notice about Matt.

Matt, you will be missed.

Matt called his dad Saturday afternoon and said he was so proud of his young Chocolate Lab who had just retrieved 3 ducks. Sunday Morning he was shot in the back of the head as he stood up in front of his buddy as he was tracking the same group of Ducks Matt was. Matt left a Wife and 6 week old Girl at home over the excitement of a Damn Duck. PLEASE keep perspective and set some ground rules. Lanes of shooting. Safe/ no shoot zones. I have attached an obituary for a life ended MUCH too soon. Do not follow in these footsteps. Beaumont, Texas.


HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- It is with great sadness that the Alabama-Huntsville athletics department announces that former Charger baseball standout pitcher Matt Jansen was killed in a tragic accident while hunting in his home state of Texas on Sunday morning.

"Matt's death has shaken the entire UAH Baseball family," said UAH head coach Lowell Mooneyham. "Matt Jansen was a great teammate, friend and even greater person. We will be there for the family during this tragic time. He will be dearly missed by all that knew him and our prayers go out to his entire family.

"A former All-Region, All-Conference and Academic All-America, Jansen married his college sweetheart, former UAH volleyballer Whitney Mock, and the couple recently had their first daughter, Avery. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Whitney, Avery and all of Matt's family," noted director of athletics Jim Harris. "Matt was a tremendous student-athlete in every sense of the word here at UAH. He set a high standard of excellence both on the field and in the classroom that all of our athletes should strive to attain.

"Possessing what most consider the best changeup in the history of the UAH baseball program, Jansen, 30, helped lead the Chargers to three NCAA regional appearances and a Gulf South Conference crown in 2001. Among the leaders in a number of statistical categories, Jansen owns one of two no hitters in school history having thrown his gem in 2000 against GSC for West Georgia.

Matthew graduated from Thomasville High School in Thomasville as the salutatorian of his class in 1997. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. While at UAH he was awarded All-Conference, All-Region, and Academic All American honors. He also took great pride working as an engineer for Bigler Corp. on the Houston Ship Channel. Matthew was an avid outdoorsman, a loving and doting father, and a beloved husband, brother and son. Matthew was a dedicated Christian and loved his Lord Jesus Christ.

With Great sadness
Tommy Jansen
Uncle