Heck I figured I would jump on in.
First, a contracting license is probably a poor example in this case, but lets stick with it. A contracting license or the ability to "contract" in a said state is nothing more than a limit on competition. It is a deal struck by established contractors and the state to limit competition in the contracting industry. I say this from a Libertarian point of view: i.e. laws destroy freedom. TAB, I understand that you've put plenty of work in to obtain these licenses so please don't take it as a knock on your efforts, but lets call it what it is. I'm sure that you can and will point to shoddy work done by unlicensed contractors as a reason for these laws, but the fact remains that if you actually believe in freedom, you can see that if a state can say who you can hire to build for you, or enter a contract with is a destruction of freedom.
How does this get to CCW holders and special treatment? Hold on I'm trying. The RTKBA is a constitutionally guaranteed, inalienable right. CCW laws are a state's efforts to limit a constitutional right. In other words, both the contracting license and CCW laws are limits on freedom. Can both get you killed? Sure. So can a lot of other things. That shouldn't be the measure of your personal freedom.
I totally agree with you about the equality of treatment, however if agreeing to less freedom for the sake of equality its a road you would choose, then take it. I will not.