When some Maryland counties passed one, many shrugged and said, “There’s always D.C.” When the District followed suit, those many seemed rattled, but not defeated, saying, “Thank God there’s Virginia.” But is Virginia now going down the same road Maryland and D.C. did? It looks like it.

We are, of course, speaking of the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. WJLA is reporting that the Virginia State Senate today endorsed a ban on smoking in indoor public places, restaurants included. While this is nowhere near the ban on smoking in bars that the D.C. Council recently endorsed, it can be seen as paving the way towards one. Did Virginians or smokers in the District and Maryland ever think the day would come? Probably not. Will it? Who knows. The measure now faces a vote before the House of Delegates, which may well choose to send it packing. But if it endorses it and the legislation moves towards Governor Tim Kaine’s desk, what’s to stop anti-smoking advocates from pushing to expand the reach of the ban? Not much.

If Virginia went with a smoking ban, it would be the last step in the creation of a region-wide smoke-free zone. Well, there’s always North Carolina, right?