Jim, this is what your friends on the far Left think of supplying non-lethal weapons.
They agree with me!

Syrian Sorrows (21 February 2012)
There is much death and pain in Syria at present. First of all the shelling of civilians. The Syrian army has been firing high explosive shells at the country's own citizens. Men, women and children are being blown apart, hit by shrapnel or buried under rubble.

We are also seeing increasing evidence of torture. 'Security' forces are not hiding this. They have recorded scores of 'trophy videos' of themselves savagely beating their captives. Young children have been among the victims. See Syria Exposed the Channel 4 program broadcast on ABC TV Four Corners on 20 February 2012.

How would a non-lethal weapons approach reduce these activities?

First of all, lethal shells would not be used in civil conflicts.

Secondly, soldiers armed with non-lethal weapons might be less acculturated to violence and less prone to torturing their fellow citizens (and one might hope – other prisoners). (We can't be certain of this, but it seems likely and would be an added benefit to a NLW approach to conflict.)
http://www.tamingwar.com/trial/