Landmark Baptist

Steve Anderson, pastor of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Ariz. was allegedly beaten and tasered by Border PAtrol agents at a checkpoint on I-8 in western Arizona Wednesday. Here's the link to his video.

http://www.examiner.com/x-7693-NY-Churc ... ist-pastor

Here's the ABC 15 report:

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/centr ... nZXHQ.cspx

Here's the story. Border Patrol Agents say dog has alerted them to his car, he refuses to cooperate on any level, they violently remove him from the car and detain him.

While I understand the need to protect and maintain our constitutional rights, I'm not sure this pastor used Biblical wisdom in this case. The Bible teaches that we are to be subject to our governments, and governments exists to protect their citizens. While I agree that our Consitutional rights are being eroded daily, I don't think this was an instance of persecution that would justify defiance. They were not searching for Bibles, or singling him out because he was a pastor. These guys probably didn't even know he was a pastor. They thought (however erroneously) that he was smuggling someone or something. If Border Patrol agents can not search a vehicle that draws the dogs attention, then we how are we to stop the smuggling of bomb materials being smuggled in by terrorists?

Furthermore, the 4th Amendment (to which he is pleading in this case) is not violated by simple searches by Border Patrol agents as per the Supreme Court ruling of The U.S. v. Martinez Fuerte of 1976, the ruling saying that those searches were not unreasonable. The agents say the dog was alerted, open the trunk, show them your tools, be on your way.

I understand his thinking on this, and I am conflicted on this, but I don't think he took the wiser course of action. I do think that excessive force was used, but that's not unusual with Federal law enforcement officials.

My first inclination, with the impression I already have of Steven Anderson, is that he probably exacerbated the situation, if not worse. But I could change my mind upon investigating it. I wonder if there is a DPS/Border Control video? I don't know if they do that, but they have cameras in their vehicles. I don't doubt that many officers are or can be "out-of-control", but I wouldn't doubt that about Steven Anderson either.

Church web site and blog:
http://www.faithfulwordbaptist.org/
http://www.stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/

I am also familiar with this man's ministry. I didn't want to make this a referendum on his record, personality, teachings, etc, so I didn't bring it up.

However, his refusal to even answer the basic check-point questions is what set all this in motion. You have not violated your fifth ammendment right by saying you're coming from so and so and going to so and so, because you are not incriminating yourself. (He admits to not answering the questions in his video.)

Apparently, this is not Bro. Anderson's first run-in with Border Patrol Agents. Bro. Anderson posted this video on Youtube of a run-in with Check-Point Border Patrol Agents back in February.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFS7oZtE8Ks

He was in violation of the law for not producing a drivers' license, plus he refused to cooperate, answer basic questions, and so on. These Border Patrol Agents decided to let him go.

Did you watch the long video? He was a total jerk. Can you imagine Jesus acting like that?

What are the typical border patrol questions?