diff --git a/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb b/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
index 13812a2..a4027ca 100755
--- a/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-# This controller class will handler incomming http requests containing new exception reports.
-# When a new exception report is recieved, it will be compared to existing bug issues.
-# If there is a match, the existing issue will be updated
-# if not a new bug issue will be generated.
+# This controller class will handle map management
 class MapsController < ApplicationController
   unloadable
   
+  include AuthHelper
+
+  before_filter :require_user
+  
   def index
     
   end
diff --git a/app/helpers/auth_helper.rb b/app/helpers/auth_helper.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7521df1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/helpers/auth_helper.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# auth_helper.rb
+# @date Apr 26, 2012
+# @author ricky barrette <rickbarrette@gmail.com>
+#
+# Copyright 2012 Rick Barrette
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+#this helper contains auth methods
+module AuthHelper
+
+  def require_user
+    if !User.current.logged?
+      render :file => "public/401.html.erb", :status => :unauthorized, :layout =>true
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/views/public/401.html.erb b/app/views/public/401.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be716a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/public/401.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<%= flash.now[:error] = "Not Authorized" %>