Yes, the first ten amendments are pointed at the feds, not at the states. So, yes, theoretically the states can do what they want but there’s no such thing as a “state” per se, only the majority of the population of that state to decide the laws of that state either through their state representatives or directly through initiatives.
And if you look at history and the “parade of horribles” I listed, you’ll see that the problem is almost never that the majority of the populace of the each state have perpetrated some horror on the state. The states are the ones with the anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage laws and pro-gun rights laws. The problem is almost never the states but the feds unconstitutionally restricting the states.
People need to get real clear about who the bad guys are. Our Founders knew and history speaks very plainly: the feds, not the states, are the greatest threat to our rights and freedoms.
I understand your point, and in general agree with it.
But, yeah, let’s look at history.
By far the greatest infringements on the natural rights of American citizens occurred almost entirely as the result of action by southern states, during the roughly 75 year reign of Jim Crow. Nothing else even comes close. And that took place despite 14A, per your argument, being set up to prevent it from happening.
So, no, I don’t trust states to always do the right thing. I don’t trust anybody to always do the right thing.
I will cheerfully agree that an out of control federal government is a greater problems than a single state going off the rails.