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.
Nothing is perfect and the beauty of the local or state issue is you don’t have to live in the South or a state you don’t like. The feds force EVERYBODY into THEIR perverse mold.
Jim Crow laws in a part of our country cannot compare to the nation-wide horrific bloodbath of 70-some million slaughtered unborn infants or the spiritual decline through banning prayer and the Bible in schools, among other things, all brought on by the feds. The feds are by far the greatest threat to our lives, liberties, and well being.