What do atheists think of death?

It looks to me like the special quality you are alluding to is the theory of mind. We recognise it in our self and others and conlude that this is important enough to preclude killing.

That's not what I'm saying: I'm saying that a reason people have for not wanting to kill other people is partially hardwired into our brain. I agree some people do need killing and I have no issue with this. However the whiners should not be dismissed as being deep down greatfull.I used to belive it was true when I was younger but when I met more and more people who I would happilly describe as whiners I had to conlude that they genuinley do see killing (or infact any violence) as abhorent.To keep this on topic I don't believe atheist have much to say about death. It seems xians and other spupernatural beleivers spend a lot more time thinking about not being alive.

I would think it is very safe to say that they were greatful that they did not have to kill.I would imagine that the act of killing would have a predicted catastophic psychological effect on this type of person: although untill ones does kill someone else I guess it is difficult to predict how one would react.But thats not really to the point of the OP. I guess one could argue that if you were religious you could have the attitiude of 'kill 'em all and let god decide' and so sleep soundly knowing that god will sort the good form the bad.But then you don't need to be religious to happilly want people dead for certain crimes but I would argue the athiest may be more worried about a false positive than a xian who can really on their god to sort out any mistakes in heaven or where ever it is falsly executed people go.