I want a turtle... only problem is that pet store around here aren't allowed to sell them.

I will get a turtle and I will name it Koop.

where do you live at?
i know many states have size limits on when you can buy them and also of course what species you can buy. here you cannot have them under 4 inches ulness for educational purposes. or if they of course breed in your pond kinda hard to make them come out full sized from the egg and stuff

I live in NC, really it's not that, it's a diease thing they say. They can carry rats and scorpions, but they can't carry turtles.... go figure.

Also, there is a lake nearby, I'm sure I can go take a turtle from there. They have monsterously large ones, so I'm sure they must also have some pet sized ones.

well scorpions and rats as pets usually do not carry the diseases that are associated with reptiles like samonela (which kills less people a year than lightening)

Also if you go looking for a pet turtle you may want to check with the local game and wildlife enforcers in your area as fines can be really astronomical if caught with illegal pets and also make sure you fi are allowed to get one or it happens to show up or something that you got something that will stay pet sized. Snapping turtles are not good pets for most people as they get huge and will take a large bite of you just as easily as anything else. so do not get hurt trying to find one.

Oh, no no no. These are just little yellow bellied sliders. Same thing you got in your picture actually. Several people around here have them as pets, but when left in the lake they get to be about football sized.

Oh around here we also have Alligator Snappers so when i think big turtle i am thinking OMG IS THAT A TIRE WITH A FACE!

Those should be good just remember that they need a good big old tank (or a kids wading pool!)