“It seems to me that unless the constitution mentions a restriction on the state they are still free to do what they want in that area.”
I find myself bending that way. Then I ask, if it’s assumed that everything not specified as pertaining to the state pertains to the federal government (which would only make sense, since it is the federal Constitution), then why does the first amendment bother to say, “Congress shall make no law...” That’s never been answered to my satisfaction.
How many others do? I’m on my phone but it doesn’t seem to mention the federal government specifically. I think the answer is that it is the founding document of the federal government so when speaking about the states it must mention them. The amendments are of course negotiated so it could have just been an oddity of that particular negotiation.