diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index 9eebefb9..0a393dce 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ git_source(:github) { |repo| "https://github.com/#{repo}.git" }
 
 ruby "3.2.1"
 
+gem "pundit"
+
 gem "simple_form"
 
 # Bundle edge Rails instead: gem "rails", github: "rails/rails", branch: "main"
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index 42668dd8..e73e59d4 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -233,6 +233,8 @@ GEM
     public_suffix (5.0.1)
     puma (5.6.5)
       nio4r (~> 2.0)
+    pundit (2.3.1)
+      activesupport (>= 3.0.0)
     racc (1.6.2)
     rack (2.2.7)
     rack-protection (3.0.6)
@@ -425,6 +427,7 @@ DEPENDENCIES
   pg (~> 1.1)
   pry-rails
   puma (~> 5.0)
+  pundit
   rails (~> 7.0.4, >= 7.0.4.3)
   rails-erd
   rails_db
diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index bd664b1d..6619aeb1 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -1,12 +1,32 @@
 class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
+  include Pundit
+
+  # after_action :verify_authorized
+
   before_action :authenticate_user!
 
   before_action :configure_permitted_parameters, if: :devise_controller?
 
+  rescue_from Pundit::NotAuthorizedError, with: :user_not_authorized
+
+  # blocker here trying to include the after_action, would appreciate guidance here!
+  # after_action :verify_authorized, except: :index
+  # after_action :verify_policy_scoped, only: :index
+  # after_action :verify_authorized, unless: :devise_controller?
+  # after_action :verify_policy_scoped, only: :index, unless: :devise_controller?
+
   protected
 
   def configure_permitted_parameters
     devise_parameter_sanitizer.permit(:sign_up, keys: [:username, :private, :name, :bio, :website, :avatar_image])
     devise_parameter_sanitizer.permit(:account_update, keys: [:username, :private, :name, :bio, :website, :avatar_image])
   end
+
+  private
+
+  def user_not_authorized
+    flash[:alert] = "You are not authorized to perform this action."
+    
+    redirect_back fallback_location: root_url
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/controllers/comments_controller.rb b/app/controllers/comments_controller.rb
index 046a8e5d..738f2e97 100644
--- a/app/controllers/comments_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/comments_controller.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 class CommentsController < ApplicationController
   before_action :set_comment, only: %i[ show edit update destroy ]
+  before_action :is_an_authorized_user, only: [:destroy, :create]
 
   # GET /comments or /comments.json
   def index
@@ -63,6 +64,13 @@ def set_comment
       @comment = Comment.find(params[:id])
     end
 
+    def is_an_authorized_user
+      @photo = Photo.find(params.fetch(:comment).fetch(:photo_id))
+      if current_user != @photo.owner && @photo.owner.private? && !current_user.leaders.include?(@photo.owner)
+        redirect_back fallback_location: root_url: "Not authorized"
+      end
+    end
+
     # Only allow a list of trusted parameters through.
     def comment_params
       params.require(:comment).permit(:author_id, :photo_id, :body)
diff --git a/app/controllers/photos_controller.rb b/app/controllers/photos_controller.rb
index 78e53163..33181b65 100644
--- a/app/controllers/photos_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/photos_controller.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 class PhotosController < ApplicationController
   before_action :set_photo, only: %i[ show edit update destroy ]
+  before_action :ensure_current_user_is_owner, only: [:destroy, :update, :edit]
+  before_action :ensure_user_is_authorized, only: [:show]
 
   # GET /photos or /photos.json
   def index
@@ -8,6 +10,7 @@ def index
 
   # GET /photos/1 or /photos/1.json
   def show
+    authorize @photo
   end
 
   # GET /photos/new
@@ -50,19 +53,37 @@ def update
 
   # DELETE /photos/1 or /photos/1.json
   def destroy
-    @photo.destroy
-    respond_to do |format|
-      format.html { redirect_back fallback_location: root_url, notice: "Photo was successfully destroyed." }
-      format.json { head :no_content }
+    if current_user == @photo.owner
+      @photo.destroy
+      respond_to do |format|
+        format.html { redirect_back fallback_location: root_url, notice: "Photo was successfully destroyed." }
+        format.json { head :no_content }
+      end
+    else
+      redirect_back(fallback_location: root_url, notice: "Nice try, but that is not your photo.")
     end
   end
 
   private
-    # Use callbacks to share common setup or constraints between actions.
+
+  # Use callbacks to share common setup or constraints between actions
     def set_photo
       @photo = Photo.find(params[:id])
     end
 
+    def ensure_current_user_is_owner
+      if current_user != @photo.owner
+        redirect_back fallback_location: root_url, alert: "You're not authorized for that."
+      end
+    end
+
+    # def ensure_user_is_authorized
+    #   if !PhotoPolicy.new(current_user, @photo).show?
+    #     raise Pundit::NotAuthorizedError, "not allowed"
+    #     # redirect_back fallback_location: root_url
+    #   end
+    # end
+
     # Only allow a list of trusted parameters through.
     def photo_params
       params.require(:photo).permit(:image, :comments_count, :likes_count, :caption, :owner_id)
diff --git a/app/models/comment.rb b/app/models/comment.rb
index 14a8eb00..0761b0e8 100644
--- a/app/models/comment.rb
+++ b/app/models/comment.rb
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 class Comment < ApplicationRecord
   belongs_to :author, class_name: "User", counter_cache: true
   belongs_to :photo, counter_cache: true
+  has_one :owner, through: :photo
 
   validates :body, presence: true
 end
diff --git a/app/policies/application_policy.rb b/app/policies/application_policy.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e000cba5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/policies/application_policy.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class ApplicationPolicy
+  attr_reader :user, :record
+
+  def initialize(user, record)
+    @user = user
+    @record = record
+  end
+
+  def index?
+    false
+  end
+
+  def show?
+    false
+  end
+
+  def create?
+    false
+  end
+
+  def new?
+    create?
+  end
+
+  def update?
+    false
+  end
+
+  def edit?
+    update?
+  end
+
+  def destroy?
+    false
+  end
+
+  class Scope
+    def initialize(user, scope)
+      @user = user
+      @scope = scope
+    end
+
+    def resolve
+      raise NotImplementedError, "You must define #resolve in #{self.class}"
+    end
+
+    private
+
+    attr_reader :user, :scope
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/policies/photo_policy.rb b/app/policies/photo_policy.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..addcf7af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/policies/photo_policy.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+class PhotoPolicy < ApplicationPolicy
+  attr_reader :user, :photo
+
+  def initialize(user, photo)
+    @user = user
+    @photo = photo
+  end
+
+# Our policy is that a photo should only be seen by the owner or followers
+#   of the owner, unless the owner is not private in which case anyone can
+#   see it
+  def show? 
+    user == photo.owner ||
+      !photo.owner.private? ||
+      photo.owner.followers.include?(user)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/policies/user_policy.rb b/app/policies/user_policy.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6730e45d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/policies/user_policy.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+class UserPolicy
+  attr_reader :current_user, :user
+
+  def initialize(current_user, user)
+    @current_user = current_user
+    @user = user
+  end
+
+  def show?
+    user == current_user ||
+     !user.private? || 
+     user.followers.include?(current_user)
+  end
+  def feed?
+    true
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/views/photos/_photo.html.erb b/app/views/photos/_photo.html.erb
index f0de50b8..1d2f8454 100644
--- a/app/views/photos/_photo.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/photos/_photo.html.erb
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@
     </h2>
 
     <div>
-      <%= link_to edit_photo_path(photo), class: "btn btn-link btn-sm text-muted" do %>
-        <i class="fas fa-edit fa-fw"></i>
-      <% end %>
+      <% if current_user == photo.owner %>
+        <%= link_to edit_photo_path(photo), class: "btn btn-link btn-sm text-muted" do %>
+          <i class="fas fa-edit fa-fw"></i>
+        <% end %>
 
-      <%= link_to photo, data: { turbo_method: :delete }, class: "btn btn-link btn-sm text-muted" do %>
-        <i class="fas fa-trash fa-fw"></i>
+        <%= link_to photo, data: { turbo_method: :delete }, class: "btn btn-link btn-sm text-muted" do %>
+          <i class="fas fa-trash fa-fw"></i>
+        <% end %>
       <% end %>
     </div>
   </div>
diff --git a/app/views/users/show.html.erb b/app/views/users/show.html.erb
index 5656d7d5..2ee686d1 100644
--- a/app/views/users/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/users/show.html.erb
@@ -4,16 +4,19 @@
   </div>
 </div>
 
-<div class="row mb-2">
-  <div class="col-md-6 offset-md-3">
-    <%= render "users/profile_nav", user: @user %>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<% @user.own_photos.each do |photo| %>
-  <div class="row mb-4">
+<%# if current_user == @user || !@user.private? || current_user.leaders.include?(@user) %>
+<% if policy(@user).show? %>
+  <div class="row mb-2">
     <div class="col-md-6 offset-md-3">
-      <%= render "photos/photo", photo: photo %>
+      <%= render "users/profile_nav", user: @user %>
     </div>
   </div>
+
+  <% @user.own_photos.each do |photo| %>
+    <div class="row mb-4">
+      <div class="col-md-6 offset-md-3">
+        <%= render "photos/photo", photo: photo %>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  <% end %>
 <% end %>
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index 47050a54..53545094 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
   devise_for :users
   
   resources :comments
-  resources :follow_requests
-  resources :likes
-  resources :photos
+  resources :follow_requests, except: [:index, :show, :new, :edit]
+  resources :likes, only: [:create, :destroy]
+  resources :photos, except: [:index]
 
   get ":username" => "users#show", as: :user
   get ":username/liked" => "users#liked", as: :liked
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@
   get ":username/discover" => "users#discover", as: :discover
   get ":username/followers" => "users#followers", as: :followers
   get ":username/following" => "users#following", as: :following
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end