What if DC citizens get to exercise their right to keep a functional, loaded firearm in the home for self defense, and the crime rate drops?  What if at some point DC gets legal concealed carry, and crime rates drop even more?

Won't the antis just hate that?

Yes, I think it is reasonable to assume they would see that as a defeat and absolutely hate it (it's exactly how they viewed all other defeats, where crime has dropped after a new concealed carry shall-issue law) which points to the utter depravity of these people, and the lie they've been telling us when they claim that what they're doing is about "safety".