Atkins was convicted of abduction, armed robbery, and capital murder, but was verified as mentally disabled by a forensic psychologist. The jury sentenced him to death two times, after the first time was found to have a misleading verdict. However, despite the ruling of the jury, found that sentencing him to death would be "cruel and unusual punishment".
HOWEVER, Penry v. Lynaugh was another case earlier that ALSO determined the death penalty could not be used on people with mental disabilities. So it depends on the options you have.
17th-century English philosopher John Locke discussed natural rights in his work, identifying them as being "life, liberty, and estate (property)", and argued that such fundamental rights could not be surrendered in the social contract.
